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PIOUS  BREATHINGS. 

^^iE  E  I  N  G    THE    at^i^^^TT 

MEDITATIONS 

/  OF 

St.  AUGUSTINE, 

His  Treatise  of  the 

LOVE  of  GOD, 

SOLILOQUIES  and  MANUAL. 

To  which  are  added. 

Select  Contemplations 

FROM 

St.  Anjelm  and  St.  Bernard. 

Made  English  by 

GEO.  STANHOTE,  D.  D.  Dean  of  Canter- 
bury^ and  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  HerMajeily. 

The  Fifth  Edition. 


LONDON: 


Printed  for  J.  Knapton,  R.  Knaplock,  J.  Sprint,  B.  Took, 
D.  Midwinter,  R.Smith,  J.Tonson,  W.Taylor,  W.  Innys, 
J.OsBORN,  T.  BicKERTON,  R.  RoBiNsoN,  and  T.  Ward.    1720. 


T  O    H  E  R 


ROYAL    HIGHNESS 

THE 

Princefs  ANNE 

O  F 

DENMARK. 


May  it  pleafe  Tour  Royal  Highnefsy 

TH  E  following  Devotions  do  in 
their  Original  Language  a- 
bundantly  recpmmend  Them- 
felves  to  the  World,  not  only  by 
their  own  intrinfic  Worth,  but  by  the 
Authority  of  thofe  Venerable  Names, 
among  whofe  Works  they  are  pub- 
Jifb'd-     And  fince  this  laft  Advantage 

A  %  i-§ 


The  EPISTLE 


is  what   the  EngUPo  cannot  receive 
from  the  Character  of  the  Tranflator, 
Your  Royal  Highnefs  will ,   1  hope, 
have  theGoodnefs  to  pardon  his  Am- 
bition,  in  prefuming  to  fupply  that 
Defe<5t,  by  the  Honour  of  Your  Roy- 
al Highnefs's  Patronage  and  Accep- 
tance.    That  Holy  Zeal,  which  they 
are    intended  to    kindle   in    others. 
Good  Men  behold  with  great  Satif- 
faftion     already    fhining   bright    in 
Your  Royal  Highnefs  ^  fo  that  their 
proper  and  utmoft  Efficacy  to  be  at- 
tained with  regard  to  You,  Madam, 
is  the  cheriftiing  and  exercifing  that 
Devotion   and  Piety,    which  I   pray 
God   they  may  in  fome  degree  be 
ferviceable    for    infpiring    common 
Readers   with.     May  the  Fountam  of 
all  Goodnefs  p refer ve   Your   precious 
Life,  and  continue  Your  Royal  High- 
nefs long   to  us    a  bright  Example, 
and  a  fignal  Blelling  to  this  and  future 
Ages:    May  He  hear  and  grant  the 
daily  Petitions  of  His  Church,  Endue 
Ton  with  His  Holy  Spirit y  enrich  Ton 

with 


DEDICATORT. 


with  Hts  Heavenly  Grace ^  profper  You 
with  all  Happinefsy  and  bring  Ton  to 
His  Everlajiing  Kingdom,  Thefe,  Ma- 
dam, I  beg  leave,  with  all  Humility 
and  moft  profound  Refped,  to  alTure 
Your  Royal  Highnefs,  are  the  fin- 
cere,  earneft,  and  conftant  Prayers  of, 

{May  itpleafe  Tour  Royal  Highnefs) 

Tour  Royal  Highnefs's 

Apr.  12.         ^gfi  Obedient^  and 
1701.  -*  ' 


mofl  Devoted  Servant^ 


Geo.  Stanhope. 


A  3 


A   TABLE    of    CHAPTERS. 

St.  Auguftine'^  Meditations.     Book  I. 

Chap.                                     ^  Page 

I.      A  I^rayer  for  Reformation  of  Life  \ 

jTV  IL  An  Act  of  Self-accufatlon^   and  Imploring  the 

Divine  Mercy  3 

III.  "the  Sinner^ s  Lamentation  for  his  Prayers  not  being 

heard  5 

iV.  An  ASi  of  Fear  9 

V.  An  Addrefs  to  the  Father  In  the  Son's  J^ame  1 1 

VI.  T'he  Son^s  Sufferings  reprefented  to  the  Father  1 3 

VII.  An  Acknowledgment  that  fin ful  Man  was  the  Caufe  of 

Chrlfl^s  Sufferings  i  ^ 

VIII.  T'he  Soul's  Application  of  Chrlji's  Death  and  Suffer- 

ings to  her  felf  by  Faith  I  g 

IX.  A  Prayer  to  the  Holy  Ghoji  21 

X.  An  AB  of  Humility  25 

XI.  A  Prayer  to  the  Holy  'Trinity  ibid. 

XII.  A  Confeffion  of  God's  Omnipotence  And  Majejly      24 

XIII.  Of  the  Incarnation  of  the  Divine  Word  /       25' 
-    XIV.  An  AB  of  Trujl  In^  and  Thankfglvlng  for  ChHJi  and 

his  Sufferings  27 

XV.  Of  God  the  Father's  Love  to  Mankind  29 

XVI.  Of  the  two  Natures  In  Chrlfi  32 

XVII.  Of  Thanks  due  to  GOD  for  the  Redemption  of  the 

World  ^  34 

XVIII.  A  devovt  Prayer  to  Chrlfi:  35 

XIX.  The  Souls  of  the  Righteous  are  the  Houfe  of  God   40 

XX.  The  pious  SouPs  longing  for  Heaven  42 
^XL  The  Mlferles  of  the  prefent  Life  Ad, 

XXII.  The  Happlnefs  of  that  Life  prepared  for  them  that 

love  G  OD  A^ 

XXIII.  The  Happlnefs  of  Holy  Souls  at  their  departure  out 

of  this  World  ^8 

XXIV.  A  Prayer  for  Succour  In  Trouble  and  Danger     49 

XXV.  The  pious  Soul's  defire  of  Heaven  <\ 

XXVI.  An  Aa  of  Pralfe  ^4 
—-  XXVII.  How  God  may  be  feen^  and pojjeft  of  Man        5-7 

XXVIII.  ■ — .. ^(\ 

XXIX.  Of  the^  Plurality  of  Perfons  in  ^he  Unity  of  the 

Divine  Effence  ^2 

^XX.  A  Prayer  to  the  Evir-bleffed  Trinity  64 

XXXI.  God  the  true  Life  6< 

XXXII.  Th^ 


A     T  A  B   L   E. 

XXXII.  T'he  Praifes  of  Angels  and  Men  Page  67 

XXXIII.  A 'Prayer  fur  Zeal  in  the  Service  and  Prajfe  of 
GOD  72, 

XXXIV.  An  ASi  of  Devotion  and  hove  of  God  74 

XXXV.  A  devout  Prayer  to  Chrift  80 

XXXVI.  Another  to  the  fame  pwpofe  8^ 

XXXVII.  A  Praver  in  time  of  Afflidion  pi 

XXXVIII.  A  devout  Prayer  for  pardon  of  Sins  93 

XXXIX.  A  7ifeful  Prayer  99 
XL.  Devout  Refiedions  upon  the  Sufferings  of  Chriji  104 

St.  Augujlim  of  the  Love  of  God  >   or,   his  fecond 
Book  of  Meditations.    Book  II. 

I.  T"   f?  ^-E,  the  way  that  leadeth  to  Life  ill 

1  /  II.    Upon  whqt  account^  and  in  what  manner  we 

ought  to  love  God  113 

III.  How  God  made  all  things  for  Man  118 

IV.  Of  the  Love  of  God  towards  us  1 21 

V.  Of  the  Fruition  of  God  124 

VI.  T^he  Mercies  of  Creation  and  Regeneration  \i$ 

VII.  T'he  Mercy  of  being  called  to  the  true  Faith  1 29 

VIII.  Of  the  Communications  of  divine  Grace  1 31 

IX.  T'he  Mercy  of  InJiruBion  and  Illumination  134 

X.  God''s  tender  Care  and  conjlant  Prefence  with  us        13^' 

XI.  "The  Benefit  of  our  bodily  Senfes ,   and  the  Prefervatiott 

of  our  Lives  13S 

XII.  God^s  Long-fuffering  and  Mercy ^    which  preferved  us 

from^  and  forgave  us  after  the  commijfion  of  Sin  142 

XIII.  The  Power  ofmajlering  T'emptations  I  J'O 

XIV.  T'he  Benefit  of  a  holy  Hope  1 5*2 

XV.  T'he  many  Inflames  ofGod''s  Bounty ^notwithjianding  our 

Sins^  and  the  T'hanks  due  to  him  upon  this  Account  i  j*  j* 

XVI.  Of  the  Death  of  Chrift  I S9 
XVJI.  The  Promifes  of  God  162 
XVill.  The  Happinefs  of  our  future  State  163 

Sele£l  Meditations  out  of  St.  Auguftine'%  Solilo- 
quies.    Book  III. 

L  — — P.^-, : 169 

II.  -^ . . 171 

III.  The  Mifery  of  unregenerate  Man  174 

IV.  An  Ad  of  Praife  for  God's  manifold  Mercies  in  Man's 

prefent  State  ^  1 79 

Y,  The  Excellency  of  Man's  future  State  181 

^  A  4  VI.  Of 


"«jj''.^ 


A     TABLE. 

VI.  Of  the  Almighty  Power  of  God  Page  ^%  /2 

VII.  A  Prayer  for  divine  Grace  and  ProteSiion  i8£ 

VIII.  A  Prayer  againjl  evil  Defires  1 87 

IX.  Of  God'' s  feeing  all  the  ASiions  and  Intentions  of  Men  1 90 

X.  'J'he  Impotence  of  Human  Nature  to  refiffTemptationSy 

without  the  Ajfijiance  of  divine  Grace  193 

XL  'The  manifold  Goodnefs  of  Gody   and  what  Improvement 

we  Jhould  make  of  it  203 

XII.  The  Conjidcration  of  the  divine  Goodnefs,    our  Hope 

and  Comfort  in  Suffering  209 

XIII.  The  Methods  of  God^s  Grace  in  our  SanSiification  and 

Salvation  219 

XIV.  We  are  not  to  conceive  God  to  he  afenfihle  OhjeSi  11^ 

XV.  AConfeJfionofourVilenefsandGod''sExcell^cies  233 

XVI.  The  SouPs  earneji  L  ongings  after  future  Happinefs  237 

XVII.  A  concluding  Prayer  to  the  Holy  Trinity  242 

St.  Aiigufiine"^  Manual.     Book  IV. 

I.   *Tp  //jE  Excellencies  of  the  divine  Rffence  24^ 

X     II-   The  inexprejfible  Perfe^ioii  of  the  divine  Know- 
ledge 247 

III.  The  Thirjl  of  the  Soul  after  God  249 

IV.  The  Mifery  of  them  who  do  notfeek  and  love  God     2^0 

V.  A  Prayer  for  Grace  to  love  God  above  all  things  ifi 

VI.  The  Happinefs  of  Souls  delivered  from   their  earthly 

Prifons  2^3 

VII.  Of  the  Comforts  afforded  good  Men  tinder  their  pre fent 

Troubles  if^ 

VIII.  An  Ad  of  Love  and  Devotion  if  6 

IX.  The  pleafure  of  Meditating  upon  God  259 

X.  Of  Loving  God^  and  the  Advantages  of  doing  fo  264 

XI.  The  good  Effeds  of  Meditating  on  Chrijl^s  Death  and 

Sufferings  i6<) 

XII.  Of  the  Knowledge  of  the  Truth  274 

XIII.  The  Marks  and  Fruits  of  true  Love  277 

XIV.  TheexqiiifiteGoodnefsofGod  281 

XV.  The  happinefs  of  Saints  hereafter  284 

St.  Ayifelnf^  Meditations  concerning  the  Redempti- 
on of  Mankind.    Book  V.     rage  iSp. 

St.  Anfelm  of  the  Mifery  of  Man ,  in  the  Perfon  of 
a  forrowful  Sinner  deploring  his  own  Condition. 
Book  VI.     Page  20f . 

St. 


A     TABLE. 


St.  Anfelm^  Incentive  to  Holy  Love;  or,  Meditations 
upon  the  Paffion  of  our  Lord.     Book  VII. 

I.  *  ■  ^WE  Bmejit  of  obferving  and  reverencing  our  Lord  in  his  State 

m      of  Humiliation  Page  3 1  y 

II.  A  Chr-ijlian's  Boaji /Ijould  6e  in  a  Crucify' d  Saviour  317 

III.  The  greatnefs  of  God's  Mercy  to  Mankind  318 

IV.  Of  the  Miferies  which  God  took  upon  him  for  Mankind  31,0 

V.  The  Behaviour  of  Chriji  from  his  Youth  3  2  z 

VI.  Of  our  Lord's  laft  Supper  with  his  Difciples»   and  the  Treachery  of 

Judas  i-}  C 

VII.  Of  Chrifi  retiring  into  the  Garden,  and  his  Sufferings  there     325? 

VIII.  ^efus  Apprehended  331 

IX.  Our  Lord  bujfetedy  fpit  upon  and  fcourged  333 

X.  fefus  in  the  Common-Hall  33^ 

XI.  ^efus  at  Mou?it  Calvary  336 

XII.  RejleHions  upon  the  Mocking  and  Crucifixion  of  our  Lord         337 

XIII.  Jcfus  glorified  in  his  Death  340  - 

XIV.  An  Addrefs  to  God  the  Father  341 

XV.  That  the  Son  hath  paid  the  Debt  due  to  Divine  Jujiice  for  us    343 

XVI.  The  Love  due  to  the  Son  for  his  Sufferings  344. 

XVII.  An  humble  Addrefs  to  the  Son  346 

XVIII.  of  cur  Lord's  RefurreHion  349' 

XIX.  A  Trayer  to  the  Holy  Trinity  35-0 

Devout  Meditations  of  St.  Bernard^  with  regard  to  the 
State  of  Human  Nature ;  otherwife  called  his  Book  of 
the  Soul.    Book  VIII. 

I.  ^  ■  *^HE  Dignity  of  Man,  with  regard  to  his  Soul  ^ff- 

J[      II.  The  Mifery  of  Man,  with  refpecl  to  his  Body  3^0- 

III .  ts.cfleciions  upon  the  excellent  Nature  and  Privileges  of  the  Soul  3  64  - 

IV.  The  Rewards  of  good  Men  in  the  next  Life  371 

V .  of  the  Duty  of  Self  examination  37f 

VI.  of  the  Attention  requifite  in  publick  Devotion  377 

VII.    '       .      3^5- 

VIII.  of  wandring  Thoughts  in  Prayer  387 

IX.  The  Ficklenefs  of  Man's  Heart  389 

X.  of  excufing  our  Fatdts  394 
y^l.  A  farther  Confejjion  of  Sins  399 

XII.     " 400 

XIII.  Confdence  is  every  where  4°*  . 

XIV.  The  three  great  Enemies  of  Mankind  403 

XV.  . '■—        — — .        407 

XVI. —         —         409 

XVII.  — .-«—  ..-J- —  410 


For 


For  the  Reader's  greater  Eafe^  the  following  Tabic 
direfts  to  Devotions  proper  for  Solemn  Days^ 
and  particular  Occafions. 

FOR  the  Feap  of  our  Bleffed  ) 
Saziiour,    efpecially  TaJ^on->  Book  VU. 
week.  3 

^eajis  of  Ai^tincieitionoy  Nfitivtty.     B.I.  Chap.  15,  14,  15*,  i5, 
ij'ftj^n-rpeek:  or  before  a  Sacrament,     B.  I.  Ch.  5-,  6,  7,  8, 
Par  Whitfunday.  B.  I.  Ch.  9.    B.  III.  Ch.   i?. 

lievotions proptrforTvmity-Sun''\B.  I.  11,  12,29.  to  pag.  67. 
day.  J       B.  III.   Ch.  14. 

^r       7    ^i^j.  i  B.  I.   Ch.  28,  29,  40.     B.  IV. 

JBejope  the  Blejjea  Sacrament ,         >      ch   8      B  IV 

1  B.II.Ch.  15-,  16.  B.IV.  Ch.8. 
'^  the  time  of  Receiving.  \     B.V.  Ch.j-.  B.  VII,  Ch.  10, 

3       12,  14,  15-,  1 5,  17. 
'  ^r      T      r  ^  f  -)  Pag.  67.  to  80.     B.  I.  Ch.  40. 

After  the  Blejfed  Sacrament,  >     B.IV.   Ch.  10,  11. 

Confejfion  of  Sins.  B.  I.  Ch.  3,  4.     B.  VI. 

Xn  time  of  Affliciion,  B.I.C.24,37.  B.3.C.1 2.  B.IV.  7. 

uigamfl  Temptations.  B.  I.  C.  24.  B.  III.  Ch.  i  o.  p.  1 9 2 , 

Tor  Grace  to  ferve  arid  l<yve  GODVB.  I.  Ch.  i,  2,  18.  B.IV, 
better.  J      C.  4,  5-,  15., 

Tor  Zeal   and   Ferfeverance    ^Igj    Ch   z<-  i6 
Frayer.       *  j>     •    •         •  3>»  3    • 

uigamji    roandring    Thoughts    /«7  B   VI II      Ch    6   7    9 
Frayer.  J 

_,,...       r     ,^     .       ^^.  .  7  B.  I.  Ch.  17.    B.  II.  through- 
-rhankfgtvmgs  for  Mercies.    Sptrs- (      ^^^    g   /jj^  ^.j^^  ^^^ 

/«^/  0«e.  .^a^///.  ^     ^^  j8^^   Ch.  II,  12,  i^-. 

Contemplations  of  the  Divine  Fer-  )B.  I.  Ch.  12,  28.  B.  IV.  Ch. 
feSion.  j       12. 

7  B.  I.   Ch.  20,  21,  22,  25-,  26. 
^c?j  of  Heavedy-mindednefs.        \     B.  III.  C.  16.  B.  IV.  C,  6,  9, 

5      If.   B. VIII.  C  4. 


St. 


give    car  to  my  W orhs ,  C £crb  ,  G o nsil)cr   my 

.    cAlc?i  fair  Oil       PS;'y.V;t. 


St.  Auguflines 
MEDITATIONS. 

B  O  O  K     I. 

CHAP.    L 
A  Trayerfor  Reformation  of  Life, 

INfpire  my  Soul,  O  Lord  my  God,  with  a  ho- 
ly defire  of  thee,  my  chief,  my  only  good,  that 
I  may  fo  earneftly  defire  as  diligently  to  feek 
thee,  fo  fuccefsfully  feek  as  to  be  happy  in 
finding  thee  j  make  me  fo  fenfible  of  that  Happinefs 
in  finding,  as  moil  pallionately  to  love  theej  fo  ef- 
fectually to  exprefs  that  Love,  as  to  make  fome  amends 
for  my  paft  W  ickednefs ,  by  hating  and  forfaking 
my  former  evil  courfes,  and  entring  upon  a  Conver- 
fation  exemplarily  Pious  for  the  time  to  come. 

Give  me,  dear  God,  hearty  Repentance,  an  hum- 
ble and  contrite  Spirit  >  make  my  Eyes  a  Fountain 
of  Tears,  and  my  Hands  liberal  difpenfers  of  Alms, 
and  unwearied  inflruments  of  good  Works.  Thou 
art  my  King  ♦,  reign  abfolute  in  my  Heart ,  fubduc 
and  expel  thence  all  rebellious  Paffions  >  quench  all 
the  impure  burnings  of  fieflaly  Lufts,  and  kindle  in 
it  the  bright  Fire  of  thy  Love. 

Thou  art  my  Redeemer,  beat  down  and  drive 
out  the  fpirit  of  Pride,  and  impart  to  mc,  in  much 
Mercy,  the  Treafure  of  thy  own  unexampled  Hu- 
mility, and  wonderful  Condefccnfion. 

'     ■■  •  Thou 


MEDITATIONS. 


Thou  art  my  Saviour,  take  from  me  the  rage  of 
Anger i  and  arm  me,  I  befeech  thee,  with  the 
Shield  of  Patience. 

Thou  art  my  Creator,  root  out  from  me  all  that 
Rancour  and  Malice  whereby  my  Nature  is  corrupt- 
ed y  and  implant  in  me  all  that  fweetnefs  and  gen- 
tlenels  of  Temper,  which  may  render  me  a  Man 
made  in  thy  own  Image,  and  after  the  hkenefs  of 
thy  own  divine  Goodnefs. 

Thou  art  my  mofl  merciful  and  indulgent  Father, 
O  grant  thy  own  Child  thofe  beft  of  Gifts  -,  a  firm 
and  right  Faith,  a  ftedfaft  and  well-grounded  Hope, 
and  a  never-failing  Charity. 

O  my  Dire6tor  and  Governor,  turn  away  from 
■  me,  I  befeech  thee,  vanity  and  filthinefs  of  Mind, 
a  wandering  Heart,  a  fcurrilous  Tongue,  a  proud 
Look,  a  gluttonous  Belly  5  preierve  me  from  the 
venom  of  Slander  and  Detraftion ,  from  the  Itch 
of  Curiofity,  from  the  thirft  of  Covetoufnefs,  Am- 
bition and  Vain-glory  5  from  the  deceits  of  Hypo- 
crify,  the  fecret  Poyfon  of  Flattery  j  from  contempt 
of  the  Poor,  and  oppreilion  of  the  Helplefs  >  from 
the  canker  of  Envy,  the  fever  of  Avarice,  and  the 
peftilential  Difeafe  of  Blafphemy  and  Prophanefs. 

Prune  away  my  fuperfluity  of  Naughtinefs ,  and 
purge  me  from  all  manner  of  Injuftice,  Ralhnefs, 
and  Obflinacy  j  from  Impatience,  Blindnefs  of 
Heart,  and  cruelty  of  Difpofition. 

Incline  me  to  obey  that  which  is  good ,  and  to 
comply  with  wholfome  Advice  >  enable  me  to  bri- 
dle my  Tongue,  and  to  contain  my  Hands  from 
Wrong  and  Robbery.  Suffer  me  not  to  infult  the 
Poor,  to  defame  the  Innocent,  to  defpife  my  Infe- 
riors, to  treat  rny  Sei^vants  with  Severity  and  Scorn, 
to  fail  in  due  Affeftion  towards  my  Friends  and  Re- 
lations, or  in  Kindnefs  and  Compaflian  towards  my 
Neighbours  and  Acquaintance. 


O  my 


MEDITATIONS. 


O  my  God,  thou  Fountain  of  Mercy,  I  beg  Thee, 
for  the  fake  of  the  Son  of  thy  Love,  difpofe  me  to 
the  Love  and  Praftice  of  Kindnels  and  Mercy  j  that 
I  may  have  a  tender  fellow-feeUng  of  my  Brethrens 
Afflictions  j  and  apply  my  felf  cheerfully  to  reftify 
their  Miilakes,  to  relieve  their  Miieries,  to  fupply 
their  Wants,  to  comfort  their  Sorrows ,  to  aflifl: 
the  opprefled,  to  right  the  injured,  to  fuilain  the 
needy,  to  cherifh  the  deje<Si:ed,  to  releale  them  that 
arc  indebted  to  me,  to  pardon  them  that  have  of- 
fended me,  to  love  them  that  hate  me,  to  render 
Good  for  Evil,  to  defpife  none,  but  pay  all  due  re- 
fpeft  to  every  Man.  Give  me  Grace  to  imitate 
thofe  that  live  well,  to  avoid  and  beware  of  them 
that  do  ill  'y  to  follow  all  manner  of  Virtue,  and 
utterly  abandon  and  dete£t  all  fort  of  Vice :  Make 
me  patient  in  Adverfity,  and  moderate  in  Profpe- 
rity.  Set  a  fFaUh  before  my  Mouthy  and  keep  the  Pfal,  141; 
door  of  my  Lips :  Wean  my  Affections  from  things  3. 
below,  and  let  them  be  eager  and  fix'd  upon  Hea- 
ven, and  Heavenly  Things. 


CHAP.    IL 

An  Act  of  Self-accufatioriy   an^  imploring  the 
divine  Mercy. 

THOU,  Lord,  who  haft  formed  me,  knoweil 
the  Work  of  thy  own  Hands,  and  yet,  be- 
caufe  thy  Creature,  I  have  been  bold  to  afk  many 
and  great  Mercies,  though  lefs  than^  and  altogether  Q^n.  32. 
unworthy  of^  the  leaft  of  all  thy  Mercies.  I  acknow-  lo. 
ledge,  O  my  God,  with  Shame  and  Sorrow,  that 
not  only  the  Gifts  and  Graces  I  have  been  implor- 
ing all  this  while,  are  in  no  'degree  my  due  j  but 
that  many  and  grievous  Sufferings  and  Judgments 
are  what  I  have  moft  juftiv  dcferv'd  at  thv  Hands. 

But 


MEDITATIONS. 


But  when  my  Soul  feels  it  felf  linking  under  the 
weight  of  this  melancholy  Refledion,  the  Publi- 
Mat.p.s^.cans,   and  Harlots,    and   Sinners,   thofe  wandring 
Luke  15  and  loft  Sheep,  which  the  good  Shepherd  fought 
fo  carefully,  drew  back  from  the  very  brink  of  the 
Hellifh  Precipice  fo  feafonably,   brought  home  up- 
on His  Shoulders  fo  joyfully,  and  laid  in  His  Bofom 
fo  affe6t:ionately  >   theie  raife  my  drooping  Spirits, 
and  give  new  Life  to  my  Hopes.     For  Thou,  my 
God,  Thou  haft  made  all  things  by  thy  Power,  and 
art  wonderful  in  all  thy  doings  >  yet  art  Thou  moft 
wonderful,    and  exceeding  Glorious  in  thy  Works 
of  Pity  and  Love.     In  this  fenfe  too  is  that  moft 
true,  which  Thou  fpeakeft  of  thy  Self  by  the  Mouth 
Pfal.  145.  of  thy  Servants.     The  Lord  is  good  to  all^  and  his  tender 
19-  Mercies  are  over  all  his  Works,     And  what  was  (aid  of 

one  particular  Perfon,  we  may  moft  truly  apply  to 
So.  24,  thy  People  in  general.  My  Mercy  'will  I  not  take  from 
28.  him.     For  Thou  abhorreft,  defpifeft,  forfakeft  no 

Man,  but  fuch  only  as,  loft  to  all  fenfe  of  their  own 
Duty  and  Happinefs,  do  firft  defpife  and  forfake 
Thee. 

Hence  is  it  that  Thou  doft  not  only  not  ftrike 
when  Thou  art  not  angry,  but  even  when  Thou  art 
moft  juftly  fo.  Thou  giveft  good  things  liberally, 
upon  the  requcft  of  thofe  Wretches  who  have  pro- 
vok'd  Thee  to  Anger.  O  my  God,  the  horn  of 
my  Salvation,  and  my  Refuge,  I  am  fadly  fenfible 
that  I  am  one  of  thole  miferable  Wretches  j  I  have 
provok'd  thy  Wrath,  and  done  evil  in  thy  Sight  j 
and  yet  Thou  holdeft  thy  Hand.  I  have  finn'd,  and 
Thou  haft  fuffer'dj  I  have  offended,  and  ftill  Thou 
beareft  with  me.  If  I  repent,  Thou  fparefts  if  I 
return.  Thou  reccivcft  me  with  open  Arms  5  nay, 
even  while  1  delay.  Thou  waiteft  patiently  for  my 
coming  back  to  Thee;  Thou  calleft  me  to  Thee, 
when  I  go  aftray  \  Thou  invitcft  me  while  I  am 
deaf  to  thy  gracious  Calls  5  Thou  ftay'ft  till  I  fhake 
off"  my  wicked  lloth  j  and,  when  thy  Prodigal  Child 


MEDITATIONS. 


at  laft  bethinks  himfelf.  Thou  meeteil  and  embra- 
ceft  him  moft  gladly.  Thou  inilrudeft  my  igno- 
rance, comfortefl  my  Sorrows,  keepeil  me  from 
falling,  raifeft  me  up  when  I  am  fallen,  giveft  when  Matt.  7,7, 
I  aft:,  art  found  when  I  feek  Thee,  and  opcnell  the 
door  when  I  knock. 

Thus,  O  God  of  my  Salvation,  I  have  nothing 
to^ofler  in  my  own  excufe^  no  Plea  to  make  when 
Thou  chargeft  me  with  folly.  There  is  no  Refuge 
for  me,  but  in  thy  Goodnefs  and  Protection  5  no 
place  to  hide  me  in  from  thy  i\ll-feeing  Eye.  Thou 
haft  iliew'd  me  the  right  way  3  Thou  haft  taught 
me  how  I  ought  to  walk  in  it  j  Thou  haft  threatened 
the  Torments  of  Hell  to  affright  me  from  Wicked- 
nefs }  and  promised  the  Joys  of  Heaven  to  encou- 
rage my  Obedience. 

And  now,  O  Father  of  Mercies,  and  God  of  all 
Comfort,  perfeft,  I  befeech  Thee,  thefe  gracious  de- 
figns  upon  thy  Servant  j  pofTefs  me  throughly  with 
thy  Fear,  that  I  may  not  dare  to  incur  thy  Threat- 
nings ;  and  fupport  me  with  the  Joy  of  thy  Salva- 
tion, that  I  may  be  fill'd  with  thy  Love,  and  cheer- 
fully run  the  Race  that  leadeth  to  thy  gracious  Pro- 
mifes.  Thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  Strength,  my  God, 
my  Refuge,  and  only  Deliverer :  O  be  Thou  pleas'd 
to  infpire  my  Soul  with  proper  Thoughts  of  Thee: 
Teach  my  Tongue  fit  Words  to  call  upon  Thee  ac- 
ceptably 5  and  enable  my  Hands,  and  every  Mem- 
ber to  do  the  thing  that  pleafeth  Thee.  I  know  full 
well  that  there  is  one  way  of  pacifying  thy  Wrath, 
one  Offering  which  thy  Mercy  will  not  reje6l.  'floe  P^-  S  ^-  n- 
Sacrifices  of  Ged  are  a  troubled  Spirit^  a  broken  and 
a  contrite  Heart  my  God  will  not  defpife. 

Yet  even  this  I  cannot  give  my  God,  unlefs  he 
firft  vouchfafe  to  give  it  me.  And  therefore,  O  "Thoi^ 
Father  of  Light s^  from  whom  every  good  thing  cometh^ 
enrich  me,  I  befeech  Thee,  with  This,  I  aflc  no 
other  Treafure  j  let  this  be  my  Introduction  into 
thy  Prefence^  this  my  defence  againft  the  alTaults 

of 


6  MEDITATIONS. 

*»^i—    II  I  '  ' 

of  Spiritual  Enemies  %  this  my  Fountain  of  Tears 
to  quench  the  flames  of  Sin^  this  my  fure  Retreat 
from  the  Fury  of  inordinate  Paffions  and  Defires. 

Suffer  -me  not,   O  Thou  Strength  of  my  Soul's 
Health,   fuffer  me  not,   I  beg,   to  be  one  of  thofe 
Luke  8.  weak  Chrillians,  who  for  a  time  believe^  and  in  time 
13.  of  temptation  fall  away.     But  cover  Thou  my  Head 

Pial.  140- in  the  day  of  Battel^  for  Thou,  Thou  only  art  my 
'^'  Hope  in  the  day  of  Trouble,  and  my  Safety  in  the 

~^'    '      time  of  Danger. 

Thus  do  I  come  to  Thee,  my  Light,  and  my  Sal- 
tation, imploring  the  BlefTmgs  of  which  I  fland  in 
need,  and  declaring  the  Miferies  of  which  I  am 
afraid.  But  in  the  midft  of  this  Addrefs,  I  feel  a 
check  from  within  >  my  Confcience  flings,  and  my 
Heart  mifgives  me  j  Love  bids  me  hope,  but  fenlc 
of  Sin  bids  me  fear  >  and  dread  of  thy  Difpleafure 
damps  that  Zeal  with  which  my  Heart  approaches 
thee  'y  when  I  reflefl:  on  my  own  doings,  I  can't  but 
defpond  j  when  I  look  up  to  thy  Goodnefs  I'm  full 
of  Hope.  The  kindnefs  of  my  God  invites  and 
pufties  me  forward,  the  Wickednels  of  my  own 
Heart  difmays  and  pulls  me  back.  And  all  my 
Faults  appear  in  fuch  ghaftly  lliapes  before  my  Eyes 
as  almofl  hinder  a  holy  Confidence,  but  quite  beat 
down  the  boldnels  of  prefumption. 


CHAP.    III. 

The  Sinners  Lamentation  for  bis  Trayers  not 

being  heard, 

THus  is  my  Soul  diil:ra£l:ed  witli  different  pafli- 
ons,  when  I  appear  before  tJie  Divine  Ma- 
jeity.  And  how,  alas !  lliould  it  be  othcrwife  ? 
For  v/ith  what  Face  can  that  Man  entreat  a  Fa- 
vour,  who  hath  deferv'd  nothing  but  Hatred  and 

In- 


MEDITATIONS.  7 


Indignation  ?  What  rafhncfs  is  it  to  afk  Glory,  when 
Punilhment  only  is  his  due?  The  Maletador  pro- 
vokes his  Judge,  and,  inllead  of  (atisfying  for  his 
Offence,  he  experts  to  be  honour'd  with'  Crowns 
and  Rewards:  He  Hes  under  Sentence  of  Con- 
demnation, and  is  it  not  infoient  to  fuc  for  a 
Bounty,  to  which  he  hath  no  manner  of  Pretence  ? 
A  llupid  Child  provokes  a  moft  affectionate  Father, 
ahd  is  it  not  yet  a  greater  provocation  to  affume 
to  himfelf  the  Claim  of  inheriting,  'till  he  have 
firff  retraced  his  undutiful  Behaviour  ?  This,  O  my 
Father,  I  confefs  with  Grief  to  be  my  own  Cafe, 
I  aflv  Life,  and  have  deferved  Death :  I  have  been 
difloyal  to  my  King,  and  yet  have  the  confidence 
to  fly  to  him  for  Prote6tion :  I  have  defpifed  my 
Judge,  and  armed  his  angry  Jullice  againlt  my 
guilty  felf,  and  yet  this  very  Judge  I  betake  my 
felf  to  for  fuccour.  I  have  flopped  my  Ears  againfl 
the  Commands  of  a  Father,  and  yet  I  take,  upon 
me  to  depend  upon  him  for  his  Paternal  Affeftion 
and  Care. 

To  Thee  I  come  j  but  oh !  how  long  do  I  make 
it  before  I  come  ?  how  much  precious  time  do  I 
trifle  away  in  this  moft  important,  moff  neceffary 
Affair  ?  My  Feet  alas !  are  fwift  to  Ruin,  but  flow 
in  the  way  that  leads  to  Life  and  Safety.  I  run  after 
Sicknefs,  and  Wounds,  and  Death,  and  take  no  care 
to  fhun  the  Darts  which  made  thofe  Wounds,  even 
when  I  have  felt  the  fmart,  and  am  healed  of  the 
Sore.  I  prevented  not  thofe  Eiangers  which  might 
have  been  avoided,  and  am  at  lall  awakened  into  a 
'  fenfeofthem,  when  they  have  brought  me  to  the  ve- 
ry Gates  of  the  Grave.  I  have  added  to  my  Plagues 
by  multiplying  my  Tranfgrellions,  and  torn  open 
my  old  Wounds,  by  rclapling  into  my  former  evil 
Courfes  >  and  thofe  Maladies  which  the  Ipiritual 
Phyfician  had  cured,  the  frantick  Patient  hath 
again  brought  upon  bimfclf :  The  Sore  which  was 
ikinn'd  over,  now  breaks  out  afrefh,  becaufe  in- 
Pi  flamed 


21. 


8  MEDITATIONS. 

fliimed  by  that  repeated  Folly,  which  hath  forfeited 
the  Mercy  extended  before.  I  know  who  hath  de- 
clared, that  "when  the  righteous  man  turneth  away 
from  his  righteoufnefs^  and  commit teth  iniquity^  all 
the  righteoufnefs  that  he  hath  done  Jhall  not  be  men- 
tioned. And  if  this  Righteous  Man,  when  he  falls 
into  fin,  lofe  all  the  benefit  of  his  former  Righteouf- 
nefs, what  good  can  be  expected  for  the  ineffectual 
remorfe  of  that  Sinner,  who  commits  Evil,  and 
repents  of  it,  and  then  does  the  fame  Evil  again? 
This  is  to  me  a  mortifying  Thought  >  to  me,  who 
i  Pet.  2.  have  fo  often  return  d  with  the  Dog  to  the  Vomit ^ 
and  with  the  Sow  that  was  wajlo'd^  to  her  wallow- 
ing in  the  Mire. 

How  oft  I  have  offended,  it  is  not  in  my  power 
to  remember :  But  this  I  own  with  a  heavy  Heart, 
that,  in  general,  I  have  taught  Men  how  to  fin, 
and  made  thofe  wife  and  fkilful  in  wickednefs, 
who  liv'd  before  in  happy  ignorance  of  it.  I  have 
perfuaded  them  who  wa'e  averfe,  forced  them 
that  refiilied  me,  and  readily  complied  and  taken 
part  with  thofe  whofe  Inclinations  were  to  do  a- 
mifs.  I  have  laid  Snares  for  thofe  who  walked  fe- 
curely  -,  betray'd  thofe  into  the  Pit,  who  defir'd  to 
be  inform'd  in  the  right  way>  and,  that  I  might 
dare  to  be  guilty  of  thofe  things,  I  have  dared  to 
forget  and  drive  out  of  my  Mind  thofe  good  Princi- 
ples, and  great  Obligations  of  gratitude  to  fo  good 
a  God,  the  which  fhould  have  reilrain'd  me  from 
them. 

But,  how  faulty  foever  my  own  Memory  may  be, 

yet  I  have  to  deal  with  a  Jull  and  Terrible  Judge : 

Job  14.   One  who  feals  up  my  Iniquities  in  a  Bag^  and  ^fpes 

^7-  out  all  my  ways.    And  tho'  thou  haft  holdenthy  peace^ 

Fial.  139-^^^^/  jj^ji  y^^y^  jiiii^    ^j^^  refraineft  thy  felf  a  long 

Ifai.  41.  ^i^^-i  y(^t  I  dread  to  think  the  Day  will  comc^  when 
14.  thou  flmlt  cry  like  a  tra-v ailing  Woman^  and  deftroy 

ayid  del' our  the  ungodly  at  once, 

CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS. 


CHAP.    IV. 

An  Act  of  Fear. 

THE  Lord^  even  the  moft  mighty  God^  jJ^all come^^^^^x,  50. 
/  know  thou  y/;^//'  appear^  and  not  alxv ays  keep  i,  3,  4- 
filencc :  Then  fhall  thy  Glory  be  feen,  then  fhall 
thy  Voice  be  heard,  then  thy  Terrors  felt  by  all  the 
world  j  when  a  fire  jlnill  devour  before  thee^  and  a 
horrible  Tern pe ft  be  ftifd  up  round  about  thee.  JVhen 
thou  ftoalt  call  to  the  Heavens  from  ahove^y  and  to  the 
Earthy  that  thou  may  ft  judge  thy  People.  Andmuft 
our  fnis,  which  we  now  fo  indullriouily  conceal, 
muft  every  aggravating  Circumflance  be  then  laid 
open,  before  fo  many  thoufand  millions  of  Witnei- 
fes  ?  Muft  I  be  then  upbraided  before  fo  many 
Troops  of  Angels  and  Saints,  with  not  my  evil  deeds 
only,  but  even  w^ith  the  fms  of  Word  and  Thought  ? 
Mu(l  1  ftand  then  helplefs  and  friendlefs  before  fo 
many  Judges?  Muft  I  be  confounded  w4th  the  Re- 
proaches of  fo  many  eminent  Patterns  of  Piety  and 
Virtue,  whofe  Examples  I  refus'd  to  follow  .^  Muft 
I  ftand  the  fliock  of  fo  many  Witneftes,  w^ho  will 
teftify  againft  me  how  often  their  charitable  Advice 
hath  been  given  me  to  no  purpofe,  and  how  inef- 
fectual all  the  good  they  did  was  to  provoke  my  I- 
mitation !  Blefled  God !  What  fhall  I  have  to  fiy, 
or  how  fhall  I  find  an  evafion  ?  The  very  Appre- 
henfion  racks  me  at  this  diftancc^  my  Confcience 
flies  in  my  Face  3  and  I  have  this  difmal  Profped  con- 
tinually in  view.  I  fee,  and  daily  lament  my  danger  ; 
and  every  vicious  difpofition  helps  to  drefs  up  the 
woful  Scheme.  My  fecret  Imaginations  fting  me, 
my  Covetoufnefs  fetters  me.  Pride  accufes.  Envy 
gnaw^s  and  confumes  me,  Luft  inflames,  Intempe- 
rance Ihames  me>  Detra6tion  tortures.  Ambition 
fupplants,  Violence  and  Fraud  upbraid  3  Anger  dif- 
orders,   Gentlenefs  makes  mc  fecure,    Sloth  over- 

B  z  comes, 


IP MEDITATIONS. 

comes,  Hypocrify  cheats  me,  Flattery  makes  me 
effeminate,  Applaufe  and  Favour  vain,  Slander  full 
of-  anguifh. 

Thefa,  my  Great,  my  Only  Deliverer,  thefe  are 

the  fierce  Nations  that  make  War  againft  me :  Thefe 

the  Acquaintance  I  have  been  bred  up  with :    This 

the  Company  I  have  delighted  to  frequent,    and 

eontra<5ted    the    mofl    intimate   Familiarity   with. 

Thus  the  Objects  of  my  Love  condemn  me,  and  to 

my  Shame  and  Difhonour.     Thefe  are  the  Friends 

I  have  trufled,   the  Teachers  I  have  learnt  of,  the 

Maflers,    or  rather  the  Tyrants,    I  have  lived  in 

fubje6bion  to  ,    the  Counfellors   I    have  been  go- 

vern'd   by,    the  Cronies   I   have  lived  and  afted 

with. 

Pfal.    20.      ff^Qfy  i^  ^^^  j^y  Qod,  that  I  have  thus  long  dwelt 

5 »  ^'        in  Mefech^  and  had  my  habitation  among  the  Tents  of 

Kedar.     For  fure,  whatever  reafon  David  had,    I 

have  much  greater,  to  lament,    that  my  Soul  hath 

long  dwelt  among  them  that  are  Enemies  unto  Peace. 

But  Thou,  O  Lord,  art  Hill  my  hope  and  flay.    In 

Pfal.  143-  thy  fight ^  it  is  true^  Jhall  no  flejh  living  be  jtiftified. 

^-  1  put  not,  therefore,  any  trufl  in  the  Sons  of  Men: 

Pfal.  130  For  if  thou,  Lord.^  fiwuldefl  be  extream  to  mark  what 

3.  is  done  amifs^  who  among  them,  is  there  that  might 

abide  it  ?    And  therefore,    unlels  thou  prevent  the 

Sinner  with  thy  Mercy  and  Pardon,  for  what  hath 

been  done  amifs,  there  cannot  be  any  Righteous  to 

be  glorified,    any  quaUfied  for  a  reward  of  what 

hath  been  done  well. 

Therefore  it  is,  my  God  and  my  Salvation,  that 

Rom.i.4T  believe  in  Thee,   as  knowing  that  thy  Goodnefs 

Pfal.  119.  iQa,deth  to  Repentance,     How  fweet  are  thofe  words  of 

Tohn  6    ^^^^^  ^^  ^y  throat, !  yea^  fweet  er  than  honey  to  my  Mouthy 

2  y  ^  ^^,     that  no  man  cometh  to  thee  except  the  Father  draw  him^ 

and  that  him  who  cometh  to  thee  thou  wilt  in  no  wife  cafi 

out.     Since  then,  thou  haft  not  only  inftrucled  me 

in,  but  even  given  mc  new  hfe,  by  the  knowledge 

of  this  Truth,  and  thus  again  made  me  thy  own 

Creature  5 


MEDITATIONS.  n 

,1 ■ — — — ^-^— — — ^— — ^^— — ^ 

Creature  >  I  do,  with  all  imaginable  earneftnefs, 
with  all  the  fincerity  and  zeal  my  heart  is  capable 
of,  befeech  thee,  Almighty  Father,  together  with 
thy  moil  dearly  beloved  Son,  and  Thee,  O  beft  be- 
loved Son,  with  thy  moll  fweet  Comforter ,  draw 
me,  that  I  may  run  after  Thee ,  and  be  delighted  c^^nt.  i. 
with  the  odour  of  thy  precious  Ointments.  3,  4. 


CHAP.    V.    - 

An  Addrefs  to  the  Father  in  the  Sons  Name, 

I  Call  upon  thee,  my  God,  yea,  even  upon  Thee 
do  I  call,  who  declared  thy  felf;2/^/:7^;^/o^//y^^^^Pfai.  146, 
as  call  upon  thee  in  Truth.     Yea,   thou  thy  fclf  art  18. 
Truth ,   and  therefore  teach  me ,   for  thy  Mercies 
fake,  to  perform  this  fervice  as  I  ought  j    for  with- 
out Thee  I  know  not  how  to  pleafe  thee  5    and 
therefore  do  make  it  my  moft  humble  and  earnell 
requell  to  be  taught  by  Truth  it  felf     All  Wifdom 
without  Thee  is  no  better  than  Folly,  and  to  know 
Thee  alone  is  the  Sum  and  Perfedbion  of  Know- 
ledge.    Inform  me,  therefore,   O  Divine  Wifdom, 
and  make  me  to  underfl^nd  thy  Statutes.     For  I 
am  fully  perfuaded,   that  He,    and  He  alone,    is 
hlejfed  'whom   Thou   nurtureft  and  teachefi  in  thy  pfai.  94, 
Law.  12,       * 

My  defire  is  to  call  upon  thee ,  and  to  do  it  in 
Tmth :  But  what  can  calling  upon  Truth  it  fclf  in 
Truth  mean,  except  applying  to  the  Father  by  the 
Son?  Therefore,  Holy  Father,  thy  Word  is  Truth, 
and  the  beginning  of  all  thy  Word  in  the  Gofpcl 
hath  told  us,  that.  In  the  beginning  was  the  JVord.]^^-  ^-  ^'- 
In  that  Word  of  Truth  I  call  upon  Thee,  O  Ef- 
fential  and  Original  Truth,  and  beg  to  be  directed 
in,  and  thoroughly  taught  the  Truth. 

B.  J  [And 


II  MEDITATIONS. 

And  what  can  be  more  delightful  than  to  addrefs 
Him  that  begot,  in  the  name  of  his  only  begotten? 
than  to  move  the  Father  to  tenderneis  by  the  men- 
tion of  his  own  dear  Son?  than  to  appeafe  the 
wrath  of  a  King,  by  interpofmg  the  darling  of  the 
Family,  the  Heir  of  all  his  Dominions  ?  Thefe  are 
the  powerful  methods  ufed  by  Malefactors  for  re- 
leafe  out  of  Prifon  -,  by  Slaves  and  Captives  for  ob- 
taining Freedom  ^  by  condemn'd  Perfons  for  Par- 
don \  nay,  powerful  enough  to  prevail ,  not  for 
Pardon  only,  but  even  for  Favour  and  Advance- 
ment too.  A  King's  anger  cools  inftantlv,  if  the 
Offenders  are  fuch  Favomites  of  the  Prince,  as  to 
make  ufe  of  his  Name  and  Intereft :  And  Servants 
find  it  no  hard  matter  to  come  off  without  blows, 
if  the  Children  employ  their  pretty  endearments  in 
their  behalf.  Since  then  thefe  methods  are  fo  fuc- 
cefsful  below,  why  fnould  they  not  have  the  fame 
good  eife6t  above?  I  will  beg  the  Almighty  Father, 
Pfal.  141.  for  the  fake  of  his  Almighty  Son,  to  bring  my  Soul 
9.  otit'  of  prifon^  that  I  may  groe  thanks  imto  his  Name. 

•^  Loofe  me,  Lord,  from  the  bands  of  my  fins,  for  the 
fake  of  thy  only,  thy  coeternal  Son  j  and  by  the  In- 
tcrceflion  of  that  Dear,  that  Divine  Image  and 
Brightnefs  of  thy  Glory,  now  fitting  at  thy  right 
hand,  be  reconciled  to  a  poor  finful  wretch  >  and 
inflcad  of  that  Death  my  wickcdncfies  defervedly 
threaten  me  with,  raife  and  refiore  me  to  a  Life  of 
Hope  and  Bleflednefs. 

This  isf  indeed  the  only  Advocnte  I  can  employ  : 
For,  whither  iliould  I  fice,  or  whofe  Interefl  Ihould 
I  depend  upon  with  the  Father,   except  to  go  to 
I  Joh.  2.  Him,  who  is  the  Propitiation  for  our  Sins;  whoalfo 
2.-  fitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  Gad^  making  interceffion  fov 

us?  This  therefore  is  myiMediator  with  thee, Hea- 
venly Father  5    This  my  perfe<51:  High-Priclf,    who 
Heb.  7.    ^^<^^'-^  ^^^  to  be  fan(5tified  vjith  other  Bloody  but  hath 
25,  27.     made  atonement,   and  fbands  before  .thee  pure  and 
ix.  ir,i2  bright  in  virtue  of  his  own  Blood,   with  which  he 

was 


MEDITATIONS,  13 

j^vas  waih'd  for  our  fakes.     This  is  that  holy  and 
unblemifh'd,   that  acceptable  and  perfect  Sacrifice, 
oifer'd  for  a  fweet-fmelling  fwour  unto  God.    This 
that  Lamb  without  fpot^  who  was  dumb  before  bis fi ear-  Ifa .  5  3 .  7 , 
ersy  and  tho'  reviled^  and  buffeted,  and  fpit  upon,  i  i'^^-  ^« 
yet  he  opened  not  his  Mouth.     This  that  righteous -5»  ^^* 
Pei-fon  who  did  not  fin ,   but  condefcended  to  bear 
our  finSj  and  by  his  own  Stripes  to  heal  our  putri- 
fied  Sores. 


CHAP.    VI. 

The  Sons  Sufferings  reprefentedto  the  Father. 

LOOK  therefore.  Gracious  Father,   look  upon 
this  befb  and  dearefl  of  Sons,   who  hath  en^ 
dur'd  the  worft  and  wicked'll:  indignities  upon  my 
account.     Confider,   moil  merciful  King  of  Hea- 
ven,   who  it  is  that  fuffer'd  3    and  at  the  fame  time 
think  for  whom  he  fuffer'd  fuch  bitter  things.     Is  R-om.  8. 
not  this,  my  God,  that  fpotlefs  Innocent,   whom,  32-- 
though  thy  Son,  thou  wert  pleafcdnot  to  fparc,  that  ?^^'^'  '^' 
he  might  redeem  thy  Servant  .^     Is  not  this  that  Aas^l'sl' 
Author  and  Giver  of  Life  who  was  led  '.\s  a  Sheep  to  Phil.  2..  8. 
the  /laughter^  and  becoming  obedient  e^ven  unto  Death ^ 
was  content  to  die  in  the  moll  painful  and  igno- 
minious manner?    O  thou,  w^hofe  wonderful  Wif- 
dom  contriv'd  the   whole  Myllery  of  Man's  Re- 
demption !  Relied,  I  befeech  thee,  that  this  is  that 
veiy  Perfon,   who  though  begotten  of,   and  refcm- 
bling'Thee  in  thy  Almighty  Power,   yet  was  or- 
dain'd  by  Thee  to  partake  of  my  weaknefs.      It 
was  thy  own  Divine,  which  cloath'd  it  felf  withmy 
Human  Nature,    and    in  my  Flefh   afcended  the 
Crofs ,   and  felt  the  Torments  of  a  moil  dolorous 
Death.     O  let  this  unfpeakable  inilance  of  Con- 
defccnfion  and  Love  be  ever  before   thine  Eyes  ! 
See  that   delightful  Son   extended  on  the  Crofs; 

B  4  Bchoid 


14  MEDITATIONS. 


Behold  his  holy  Hand  ftained  with  innocent  Blood, 
and  pardon  thofe  Iniquities  which  my  wicked  hands 
have  been  polluted  with.     Behold  his  naked  Side 
pierced  with  a  cruel  Spear,   and  wafli  me  in  that 
Fountain,  which  by  the  Eyes  of  Faith  I  fee  flowing 
from  that  Wound.      Behold   thofe   bleffed  Feet, 
'al.  I.  I.  which  never  flood  in  the  way  of  Sinners^  hut  walked 
in  the  paths  of  thy  Commandments^  thrull  thro'  with 
Pfal.17.5  mercilefs  Nails  >  and  hold  up  my  goings  in  thy  Path s^ 
and  give  me  Grace  to  hate  all  evil  Ways,   and  to 
chufe    the   way   to  Truth   and  Righteoufnefs.     I 
befeech  thee,  O  King  of  Saints,  may  it  pleafe  thee, 
by  this  moil  Holy  of  all  thy  Saints,  by  this  powerful 
Redeemer,    fo  to  difpofe  my  Heart  and  Actions, 
that  I  may  be  united  to  him  in  the  fame  Spirit, 
1  Cor.  6.  who  did  not  difdain  to  be  united  to  me  in  the  fame 
17.  Flefh.     Obferve  that  Head  rechncd  upon  hisBreaft, 

and  expiring  in  the  pangs  of  Deaths  and  let  this 
proof  of  thy  uncreated  Son's  Humanity  prevail 
with  my  moll  merciRil  Creator,  for  Compallion 
upon  his  own  wretched  Creature's  Infirmity. 

See  his  pale  Bread,  his  purple  Sides,  his  Bowels 
parched  with  Third,  his  beautiful  Eyes  languifhing 
in  Death,  his  Arms  grown  flid^  his  royal  Face  be- 
fmeared  ,  his  Legs  extended ,  his  pierced  Feet 
drenched  with  dreams  of  precious  Blood  :  Look, 
Glorious  Father  of  this  deared  Child ,  look  upon 
this  Body,  bruifed  and  broken,  and  torn,  and  then 
in  Mercy  call  to  mind  whereof  I  am  made.  Let 
the  Punifhment  of  God  and  Man  perfonally  united, 
atone  for  a  Man  created  after  his  and  thy  likenefs. 
Ifa.  53.  8.  Let  the  Sufterings  of  the  Redeemer  be  ever  in  thy 
Matt.  3.   fjg}^^^   2ind  in  them  over-look  the  Oftences  of  thy 

1  Pet.  1.   Redeemed.     This  (my  God)  is  He,    whom  thou 

2  \ .  thoughted  fit  to  fmite  for  the  tranfgrcjjion  of  thy  Peo- 
If.  53.  n  pi^^  tiio'  he  was  ih:\tbeloved  in  whom  thy  Soul  delight" 
Lu:<.  2.2,.  ^^^^  This  is  he  in  whom  there  was  no  guile  ^  tho'  he 
^  '          was  content  to  be  reckoned  among  the  Tran/greffors. 


CHAP, 


MEDITATIONS.  ij 


CHAP.    VII. 

An  Acknowledgement  that  finfulMan  was  the 
Caufe  of  Chriji's  Sufferings, 

WHAT  had  ft  thou  done,  O  Charming  Inno- 
cence 5  to  bring  thee  as  a  Criminal  before 
thy  Enemies  Bar  ?  Or  how  hadft  Thou  deferved 
to*  be  treated  with  fuch  rude  and  infolent,  fuch 
unrelenting  and  triumphant  Barbarity  ?  What  paf- 
fage  of  thy  whole  Life  could  they  fix  an  Accufation 
upon,  what  Crime  alledge  to  countenance  fo  rigo- 
rous a  Sentence  ?  If  none,  ( as  none  they  could) 
whence  then  thy  fhameful  bitter  Death,  or  how 
cameft  thou  to  be  condemned  as  a  vile  Mifcreant  ? 
'Twas  I,  alas,  'twas  wretched  I  that  gave  thee 
all  thofe  pains :  'Twas  I  deferved  the  Death  that 
thou  enduredft  •,  and  my  Offences  gave  thofe 
Scourges,  thofe  Nails,  that  Spear  the  power  of  flay- 
ing and  wounding,  and  killing  thee.  O  wonder- 
ful Procefb!  mylTery  of  Juftice !  that  the  Wicked 
fliould. offend,  and  the  Righteous  be  punifhed  for 
it !  thacikhe  Guilt  and  the  Condemnation  ihould 
thus  be  feparated !  that  the  Servant  ihould  contra6t 
a  Debt ,  and  the  Lord  to  whom  it  was  due  make 
fatisfa6lion !  that  Man  fhould  provoke  the  divine 
Vengeance,  and  God  fhould  feel  the  fmart  of  it  ! 
How  low,  O  Son  of  God,  did  thy  HumiHty  ftoop  ! 
How  fervent  was  thy  Love !  How  boundleis  thy 
Compaflion ! 

For  I  have  done  wickedly ,  and  Thou  art  called 
to  account  for  it :  I  armed  an  angry  Juftice  againft 
my  felf,  and  it  is  difcharged  upon  Thy  Head  :  Mine 
is  the  Crime,  and  Thine  the  Torture :  I  have  been 
proud,  and  Thou  art  humbled  y  I  am  puffed  up, 
and  Thou  haft  emptied  thy  felf  :  I  have  been  rebel- 
lious, and  thy  obedience  hath  expiated  for  it.  I 
have  been  intemperate,    and  Thou  haft   hungred 

and 


1 6  MEDITATIONS. 

and  thirftcd  for  it  :  My  ungovcrn'd  Appetite  fin- 
ned in  the  forbidden,  and  thy  immenfe  Love  fub- 
mitted  to  hang  on  the  accurfed,  Tree :  I  eat  the 
Fruit,  and  Thou  feeledft  the  Pains  :  I  wallow  in 
Plcafures,.  and  thou  art  torn  with  Nails  :  The 
Honey  in  my  Mouth  is  turned  to  Gall  in  thy  Sto- 
mach :  The  tempting  E-ve  rejoices  with  me,  the 
forrowful  Mo.ry  fufSrs  and  laments  with  Thee. 
Thus  is  my  wickednefs  and  want  of  Love  to  God, 
thus  is  thy  Righteoufnefs  and  inexprefiible  Love  to 
Man  manifelled  in  this  marvelous  difpenlation. 
pfal  1 1 6.  -^"^  now,  my  God  and  King,  ^uohat  reward  jlo all  I 
II. '  g^'^^-i  what  return  can  I  make  /or  all  the  benefits  thou 
haft  done  unto  me  ?  Surely  it  is  not  in  the  power  of 
Man  to  find  out  any  requital  anfwerable  to  fuch 
bounty :  For  how  fiiould  the  narrownefs  of  a  fi-^ 
nite  Mind  extend  to  any  thing  fit  to  be  compared 
with  infinite  Compallion  ?  How  fiiould  a  poor 
Creature  be  capable  of  any  recompcnce  fuitable  to 
the  Mercy  of  an  Almighty  Creator  ?  And  yet,  my 
dearell  Saviour,  fo  wonderfully  is  this  matter  or- 
da^'d,  that  even  Man,  even  I,  weak  and  worthlefs 
though  I  be,  may  find  fomcthing  which  Thou  art 
pleas'd  to  accept  in  return  ;  if  by  thy^^race  my 
Gal  5.  i-i.  Soul  be  broken  and  humbled,  -xndi  1  crucifie  this Flejj} 
"with  its  affections  and  lifts.  When  wrought  up  to 
this  holy  difpofition,  I  then  begin  to  liiffer  for, 
and  live  to  thee  ,  and  in  fomc  ibrt  to  pay  back 
what  thou  haft  cndur'd  when  dying  for  me.  Thus 
by  gaining  a  conqueft  upon  the  Inward  Man,  1  am 
by  thee  enabled  to  win  the  Crown  by  my  Out- 
ward •,  and,  by  triumphing  over  the  Ficfii  in  Spiri- 
tual Trials ,  that  very  Flelli  hath  the  courage  to 
iiibmit  gladly  for  thy  fake  to  Bodily  Perfccutions 
and  Death.  This  is  the  utmoft  my  Condition  will 
admit  j  and  this,  though  but  little  in  it  lelf ,  yet 
when  proceeding  from  the  fame  Principle  of  holy 
Love,  thou  art  gracioufiy  pleas'd  to  accept,  as  the 
utmoll  poor  Mortals   can  do  in  acknowledgment 

of 


MEDITATIONS.  17 

of  their  Great  Maker.  This  is  the  Cure  of  finful 
Souls ',  This  Blelled  Jefus,  the  fovereign  Antidote 
Thy  Mercy  hath  provided  for  us ! 

I  befeech  thee  therefore,  by  thy  tender  Mercies^-^^^^.  i-. 
which  ha'ue  e-ver  been  of  old^  pour  fuchBahn  into  my  5. 
Wounds,  as  may  difpel  the  Venom  of  my  Difeafes, 
and  reilore  me  to  fpiritual  health  and  foundnefs. 
Let  me  drink  of  thy  heavenly  fwectnefs,  and  be  fo 
raviih'd  with  the  tallc,  as  ever  after  to  difrelifh  the 
Senfual  Delights  of  the  World,  to  defpife  its  Plea- 
fures,  and  chearfully  encounter  the  Afflictions  of 
this  prefent  Life  >  and  fo  to  fix  my  Heart  on  true 
noble  Joys,  as  always  to  difdain  the  empty  and 
tranfitory  Shadows,  which  Flefh  and  Blood  is  fo 
fooliflily  fond  of,  and  fo  fearful  of  parting  with. 

Let  me  not,  I  befeech  thee,  efteem^or  delight  in 
any  thing  but  Thee :  Let  all  this  whole  World  can 
give,  without  thee,  be  counted  no  better  than  Drofs 
and  Dung :  Let  me  hate  moil  irreconcilably  what- 
ever difplcafes  Thce>  and  what  Thou  lovelt  let  me 
moll  eagerly  deiire ,  and  inceflantly  purfue :  Let 
me  feci  no  iatisfacirion  in  any  Joys  without  Thee  ; 
nor  any  rclu^tancy  in  the  greateil  Sufferings  for 
thcc.  Let  the  mention  of  thy  Name  be  always  a 
Refrefhment,  and  the  remem.brance  of  thy  Good- 
ncfs  an  inexhaufHble  Spring  of  Comfort  to  my 
Soul.  Let  Tears  be  my  Meat  day  and  night,  fo  I 
may  attain  to  thy  Righteoufnefs  •,  -divAthe  Laiv  of  thy  pr.,I.  119. 
Mouth  always  dearer  to  nie  than  thoufands  of  Gold  and  7  '- 
Siher.  Let  me  aim  at  nothing  fo  much  as  to  do 
Thee  fervice  j  nor  deteil  and  avoid  any  thing  in 
comparifon  of  finning  againll  thee.  And,  for  what 
I  have  unhappily  done  of  that  kind  already,  I  en- 
treat Thee,  my  only  refuge  and  hope,  to  pardon 
for  thy  own  Mercies  fike.  Let  my  Ears  be  ever 
open  to  the  Voice  of  thy  Law,"  and  fuffer  not  m^ 
Heart  to  encUne  to  any  ^-ri/if/^/;;^,  that  I  never  comply  Pral.  149, 
with  them  that  pra'clife  wickednefs^  nor  takefhelter  in  -^• 
trifling  Pretences  to  excufc  or  indulge  m.y  felf  in 

doing 


8  MEDITATIONS. 


II. 


doing  what  I  ought  not.     And  once  more,    I  beg 
Pfal.  36.    thee,  by  thy  own  unparallcrd  HumiHty,   that  the 
foot  of  Pride  may  not  come  againji  me^  nor  the  hatid 
of  the  ungodly  cafi  fne  down. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

The  Soufs  Application  of  Chrijl's  "Deathy  and 
Suffer  trigs  to  herfef  by  Faith, 


™», 


'"^HOU  feefr,  niy  Lord,  my  God,  I  have  done 
my  iitmpll  to  incUne  thy  Mercys  I  have 
vith  a  moil  fincere  zeal  offered  to  thee  the  beft, 
the  dearell,  -the  moft  acceptable  thing  I  have  : 
Nay,  1  hav*e  nothing  elle  indeed,  no  addition  to 
make ,  llnce  in  this  One  I  place  my  whole  trull, 
and  make  a  prefent  at  once  of  all  I  value  or  depend 
upon.  For  I  have  addrefs'd  to  thee  by  My  only 
I  Tim.  2.  Advocate,  and  Thy  Only  Son:  That  One  Media- 
5,  tor  het-iveen  God  and  Alan ,   that  Glorious  Intercef- 

for,  by  whom  I  afTuredly  expect  acceptance  and 
foigivcnefs.  1  have,  by  my  words  poured  out  be- 
fore thee,  fent  that  fFord  in  my  behalf  to  Thee, 
which  thou  didll  heretofore  fend  down  from  Hea- 
ven for  my  Sins  ,  I  have  paid  down  the  price  of 
that  Paflion,  which  thy  own  Son,  I  moll  firmly 
believe,  hath  undergone,  for  the  releafe  of  that 
Debt  to  thy  Juilice  which  my  mifdeeds  have  con- 
tracted. I  believe  that  thy  Godhead,  fent  thus  in- 
to the  World ,  did  take  upon  him  my  Manhood  j 
that  in  this  State  he  vouchlafed  to  be  bound  and 
buffeted,  to  be  derided  and  fpit  upon,  to  be  nail- 
ed, and  pierced,  and  crucified.  And  this  Nature 
of  mine,  after  being  wrapt  up  in  fw^adling  Clothes, 
and  moillncd  with  infant  Tears  -,  after  the  toils  of 
Youth,  the  mortifications  of  Fallings,  and  Watch- 
ings,    and  long  Journeys  j    after  being   furrowed 

with 


MEDITATIONS.  ip 


with  Scoiirgings,  torn  upon  the  Crofs,  numbred 
among  the  Dead,  and  at  laft  honoured  with  a  glo- 
rious Refurredion :  This  Nature  of  mine,  I  lay, 
thy  Godhead  united  to  it,  I  moil:  afluredly  believe, 
hath  now  exalted  to  the  Joys  of  Heaven,  and  feat- 
ed  at  the  right-hand  of  thy  Majefty  on  high.  This 
is  my  Confidence  5  this  the  ReconciHation  for  my 
Sinsj  this  the  Atonement  thou  haft  accepted  for 
them. 

Remember  then,  in  much  Mercy,"  the  quahtyof 
thy  Son,  and  the  condition  of  thy  Servant  redeem- 
ed by  him.     Look  upon  the  Maker,   and  defpife 
not  the  work  of  his  Hands.     Take  the  Shepherd 
into  thy  embraces,  and  caft  not  out  the  ftray  Sheep  Luk; 
which  he  brings  home  upoii  his  Shoulders.     For 
This  is  that  careful  Shepherd,    who,    when   his 
Sheep  wander'd  over  lleep  Hills,  and  thorny  Vales, 
and  defolate  Wildernefles,    fought  and  brought  it 
back  with  wondrous  fkill  and  pains:    And  when 
it  was  faint  and  jult  expiring,   fullainVl  and  carry'd 
it,  ty'd  it  faft  to  himfelf  by  the  flraiteft  bands  of 
Love,  lifted  it  out  of  the  Pit  of  Error  and  Confu- 
fion,   and  with  many  a  kind  and  tender  Embrace 
rejoiced  over  it,    and  fetch'd    the  poor  loil   filly 
Creature  home  to  the  ninety  and  nine  which  layfafe 
in  his  own  Fold. 

See  then,  my  God  and  King,  fee  the  good  Shep- 
herd bringing  to  thee  the  Sheep  committed  to  his 
Charge:  He  undertook  to  fave  Man  by  thy  ap- 
pointment, and  he  hath  perform'd  the  undertaking 
fo,  as  to  reilore  to  thee  pure  aud  fpotleis  thy  once 
polluted  Creatures:  He  brings  in  lafety  back  that 
Prey,  which  the  Wolf  and  Robber  had  carried  off 
hy  violence.  He  brings  that  Servant  into  thy  pre- 
fence,  whom  his  own  guilty  Confcience  had  put 
upon  fleeing  from  thy  fight,  that  fo  the  puniihment 
due  to  his  deferts  mj'ght  be  remitted  through  his 
Lord's  fatisfadion  \  and  the  Offender,  who  had 
nothing  to  look  for  but  to  be  baniflied  for  ever 

into 


20  MEDITATIONS. 


into  hell,  might,  under  the  protection  of  this  glo- 
rious Conqueror,  be  aflLir'd  of  admittance  into  his 
Heavenly  Country.     I  needed  none  to  help  me  in 
offending  Thee,   but  without  help  I  never  could 
have  appeas'd  Thee.     Thou  therefore,  who  alone 
could' 11  be.  Thou,   my  God,  was  my  helper  5  and 
thy  beloved  Son  effected  what  could  not  have  been 
effected,  had  he  not  taken  my  Nature  upon  him,  in 
order  to  cure  my  Infirmities :    l^ut  thus  he  became 
our  perfect  cure,   by  rendring  the  fame  Nature  the 
fubje<5t  of  both  the  Sin  and  the  Sacrifice,  anddraw- 
mg  the  Antidote  out  of  the  fame  Root  from  whence 
the  Poifon  had  fpiamg.     Thus  hath  he  made  me  a 
fit  Obie6t  of  mcrcy^    while  fitting  at  thy  Right 
Hand  in  my  Subltance,  he  makes  it  impoflible  for 
Thee  to  hate  that  in  me,  which  thou  canll  not  but 
love  in  him.     This  is  my  hope,  and  the  Joy  of  my 
Confidence. 

If  then  I  do,  as  well  I  may,   feem  vile  and  de- 
fpicable  in  thy  fight,  through  my  own  Impurities, 
yet  look  upon  me  at  leall  with  an  Eye  of  Pity  : 
when  thou  beholdcll  my  Likenefs  in  the  Son  of 
thy  Love,   behold  the  myltery  of  a  Human  Body 
in  him,   and  remit  the  guilt  of  the  f\me  Human 
Body  in  me :  Hide  my  Sins  in  his  Wounds,  and  let 
my  Stains  be  wafh'd  in  his  molt  precious  Blood. 
Flefh  provok'd  thee  to  Wrath,  let  Flefh  likewife 
prevail  with  thee   for  Mercy  ;    and  as  my  Fleili 
drew  me  into  fin,  fo  let  my  Saviour's  draw  thee 
to  compafiion.    Great,  1  confcfs,  arc  my  Faults,  and 
the  Punifhments  due  to  them  j   but  greater,   infi- 
nitely greater,  are  the  Merits  and  Sufferings  of  my 
Dear  Redeemer:  Between  my  Sins  and  his  Righ- 
teoufnefs  there  is  no  comparilbn,    no  proportion  at 
all,   either  for  quality  or  degree,     no  more  than 
there  is  between  GOD  and  Man,  between  an  Atom 
and  an  Infinite. 

For  what  is  it  poffiblc  for  Man  to  be  guilty  of 
which  the  Son  of  God  made  Man  mull  not  needs 

have 


MEDITATIONS.  21 

have  compenfated  ?  What  Pride  can  be  fo  extra- 
vagant, that  His  Humihty  did  not  exceed  and 
make  amends  for  ?  What  dominion  could  Death 
have  lb  abfolute,  that  the  Death  of  the  Crois 
fhould  not  utterly  overthrow  it  ?  If  then  Almigh- 
ty G  O  D  would  be  pleas'd  to  weigh  the  Sins  of 
Man  in  balance  againft  the  Goodnefs  of  his  Saviour, 
Eall:  and  Well,  Heaven  and  Hell,  are  not  fo  far 
diftant  from  each  other.  And  therefore,  O  my 
God,  let  my  manifold  Offences  be  pai'don'd,  for 
the  many  more  Pains  and  Sufferings  of  thy  dear  Son : 
Let  his  Piety  atone  for  my  want  of  it  y  his  ready 
Obedience  for  my  Perverfenefs  j  his  Meeknefs  for 
my  untradlable  temper  :  Set  his  Humility  againil 
my  Pride,  his  Patience  againft  my  Difcontent,  his 
Kindnefs  againft  my  Hard-heartednefs,  the  Calm- 
nefs  of  his  Soul  againft  my  Fretfulnefs  and  unruly 
Pallions,  his  Gentlcnefs  againft  my  Rage,  his  uni- 
verfal  and  unwearied  Love  againft  my  Hatred,  Re- 
venge, and  Cruelty. 


CHAP.    IX. 

^  Trayer  to  the  Holy  Ghoft, 

AN  D  now,  O  Holy  Spirit,  Love  of  God,  who 
proceed'ft  from  the  Almighty  Father  and 
his  moft  Blefled  Son,  powerful  Advocate,  and 
fweetcft  Comforter,  infufe  thy  Grace,  and  defccnd 
plentifully  into  my  Heart  5  enlighten  the  dark  cor- 
ners of  this  negleded  dwelling,  and  fcatter  there 
thy  chearful  Beams  j  dwell  in  that  Soul  which  longs 
to  be  thy  Temple  •,  w^ater  that  barren  Soil,  over-run 
with  Weeds  and  Briars,  and  loft  for  want  of  cul- 
tivating, and  make  it  fruitful  with  thy  Dew  from 
Heaven.  Heal  the  lurking  Diftempers  of  my  In- 
ward Man  j  ftrike  me  through  with  the  Dart  of  thy 

Love, 


2z MEDITATIONS. 

Love,  and  kindle  holy  Fires  in  my  Breaft,  fuch  as 
may  flame  out  in  a  bright  and  devout  zeal,  a6luate 
and  enliven  the  heavy  Mafs,  burn  up  all  the  drols 
of  fenfual  AfFeftions,  and  diffufing  themfelves  thro' 
every  part,  poflefs,  and  purify,  and  warm  my  whole 
Spirit,  and  Soul  and  Body. 
P^al.  36.S.  Make  me  to  drink  of  the  Spiritual  Pleafures  as  out 
of  a  River 'y  and  let  their  heavenly  Sweetnefs  fa 
corre61:  my  Palate,  as  to  leave  no  defire,  no  re- 
lifh  for  the  grofs  unhealthful  fulfomnels  of  world- 
Pfal  43.T.  ly  dehghts.  Judge  me^  O  Lord^  and  defend  my  caufe 
143-  •^o-  againfi  the  ungodly  People.  Teachmetodothethingthat 
■pleafeth  thee^  for  thou  art  my  God.  I  believe,  that  in 
whomfoever  thou  dwelleft,  the  Father  and  the  Son 
do  likewife  come,  and  inhabit  that  Breaft.  And 
oh !  happy  is  that  Breaft,  which  is  honoured  with 
fo  glorious,  rfo  divine  a  Gueft,  in  whofe  Company 
the  Father  and  the  Son  always  come,  and  take  up 
their  abode !  O  that  it  may  pleafe  thee  to  come  to 
me,  thou  kindeft  Comforter  of  Mourning  Souls, 
thou  Mighty  Defence  in  Diftrefies,  and  ready  help 
in  time  of  need.  O  come  thou  purger  of  all  in-' 
ward  Pollutions,  and  healer  of  fpiritual  Wounds  and 
Luke  I.  Difeafes.  Come,  Thou  ftrength  of  the  feeble,  and 
pial  51.  raiferof  them  that  fall.  Come,  Thou  ^utttx down 
^^-  ^'  of  the  Proud^  and  teacher  of  the  Meek  and  Humble,' 
^8  5.  Come,  Thou  Father  of  the  Fatherlefs^  and  juft 
Avenger  of  dcfolate  Widows.  Come,  come.  Thou 
Hope  of  the  Poor,  and  refrefliment  of  them  that 
languilh  and  faint.  Come,  Thou  Star  and  Guide 
of  them  that  fail  in  this  tempeftuous  Sea  of  the 
World  V  Thou  only  Haven  of  the  tofs'd  and  fhip- 
wreckt.  Come,  thou  Glory  and  Crown  of  the  Living, 
and  only  Safeguard  of  the  Dying.  Come,  Holy 
Spirit,  in  much  Mercy,  come,  make  me  fit  to 
receive  thee,  and  condefcend  to  my  Infirmities, 
that  my  meannefs  may  not  be  difdained  by  thy 
greatnefs,  nor  my  weakncfs  by  thy  ftrength :  All 
which  I  beg  for  the  fake  of  Jefus  Chrift  my  only 

Sa- 


MEDITATIONS.  23 


Saviour,  who  in  the  Unity  of  Thee,  O  Holy  Spi- 
rit, Hvcth  and  reigneth  with  the  Father,  One  God, 
World  without  end.     Avien. 


CHAP.    X. 

An  A£i  of  Humility. 

I  Know,  O  Lord,  and  do  with  all  Humility  Ac- 
knowledge my  felf  an  Obje6t  altogether  un- 
worthy of  Thy  Love  >  but  fare  I  am,  Thou  art  an 
Object  altogether  worthy  of  mine.  I  am  not  good 
enough  to  ferve  Thee,  but  Thou  haft  a  right  to  the 
beil  Service  I  can  pay.  Do  Thou  then  impart  to 
me  fome  of  that  Excellence,  and  that  fhall  fupply 
iHy  own  want  of  Worth.  Help  me  to  ceafe  from 
Sin  according  to  thy  Will,  that  I  may  be  capable 
of  doing  Thee  Service  according  to  my  Duty.  En- 
able me  fo  to  guard  and  govern  my  felf,  fo  to  be- 
fin  and  finiili  my  Courfe,  that  when  the  Race  of 
ife  is  run,  I  may  lleep  in  Peace,  and  reft  in  Thee* 
Be  with  me  unto  the  End,  that  my  Sleep  may  be 
Reft  indeed,  my  Reft  perfed  Security,  and  that 
Security  a  blejGTed  Eternity.    Amen, 


CHAP.    XL 

A  Trayer  to  the  Holy  Trinity. 

WE  praife^  and  blefs,  and  acknowledge  Thee^ 
both  in  Heart  and  Voice  >  even  Thee,  O 
Father,  begotten  of  none  5  Thee,  O  Son,  the  Only 
begotten  of  the  Father  5  Thee,  O  Holy  Ghoft, 
Eternal  Comforter :  To  this  Holy  and  Undivided 
Trinity,  be  Gloiy  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 

e  C  H  A  E 


24  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.    XII. 

A  CmfeJJlm  of  God's  Omnipotence  and  MajeJIf, 

OGod  moft  High,  Three  Perfons,  but  One  Ef- 
fence,  the  fame  Majefty  and  Power,  Lord 
God  Almighty !  the  leafl  of  all  thy  SeiTants,  and 
meaneft  Member  of  thy  myliical  Body  the  Church, 
defires  to  afcribe  to  Thee  all  Honour  and  Praife, 
the  utmoft  that  the  little  Knowledge  and  Power, 
with  which  Thou  haft  been  pleafed  to  endue  him, 
is  [capable  of  I  have  no  Prefent  but  my  felf  to 
make,  and  that  which  is  not  in  it  felf  worthy  thy 
Acceptance  >  I  beg  Thou  wilt  be  pleafed  to  look 
upon,  not  according  to  its  own  Value,  but  accord- 
ing to  thy  own  rich  Mercy,  and  that  Sincerity 
and  Faith  unfeigned,  with  which  1  do  moft  joyfully 
confe.crate  it  to  thy  Service. 

I  believe  in,  and  heartily  pray  to  Thee,  Great 
King  of  Heaven  and  Earth  j  I  acknowledge  Fa- 
ther, Son  and  Holy  Ghoft;  Three  Perfons  but 
One  Ellence^  the  True,  the  Almighty  God,  of 
One  uncompounded,  incorporeal,  inviiible,  un- 
circumfcribed  Being}  in  whom  thei*e  is  nothing 
higher  or  lower,  greater  or  lefTer,  but  perfc£t  and 
equal  all  :  Great  without  Quantity,  Good  with- 
out Quality,  Eternal  without  Time,  Life  without 
Death,  Strength  without  Weaknefs,  Truth  with- 
out Falihood,  Omniprefent  without  Space,  filling  all 
things  and  places  without  Extenfion,  palling  every 
where  without  motion,  abiding  every  wnere  without 
confinement,  communicating  to  all  thy  Creatures 
without  diminifhing  thy  own  fulnefs,  governing  all 
things  without  labour  J  without  beginning,  and  yet 
giving  beginning  to  all,  making  all  things  mutable, 
and  yet  unchangeable  thy  feltj  infinite  in  Great- 
nefs,  unbounded  in  Power,  of  Goodnefs  indefefti- 
ble,  of  Wifdom  incomprehenfible,  wonderful  in  thy 

Coun- 


ME  PI  TAT  IONS.         .     ij 

Counfels,  jufl  in  thy  Judgments,  unfearchable  in 
thy  Thoughts,  true  in  all  thy  Words,  holy  in  all 
thy  Works,  abundant  in  Mercies,  long-fuffering 
towards  Sinners,  compaflionate  to  all  that  repent  5 
always  the  fame,  without  mixture  or  defilement, 
allay  or  accidents  >  eternal,  immortal,  unchange- 
able. Thy  Will  alters  not,  thy  Juftice  is  not  by- 
afs'd,  thy  Mind  is  not  dillurbed  with  Griefs,  or 
Pleafures,  or  Pailions :  With  Thee  nothing  is  for- 
gotten, nothing  which  was  once  loft  called  to  re- 
membrance again  j  but  all  things  paft  or  future 
are  ever  prefent  to  thy  capacious  Mind  ;  whole 
Duration  neither  begun  in  time,  nor  encreafes  by 
length  of  time,  nor  fhall  it  ever  end,  but  thou  li- 
veft  before,  and  in,  and  after  all  Ages.  Thy  Glory 
is  Eternal,  thy  Power  Supreme,  thy  Kingdom  £■» 
Verlafting,  and  World  without  end.     Amen. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

Of  the  Incarnation  of  the  divine  Word. 

THus  far,  O  my  God,  the  fearcher  and  feer  of  Rom.  to; 
Hearts,   I   have  profefled  my  Faith  in  thy  9. 
Power  and  Majefty.     Now  as  my  Heart  believes 
unto  Righteoufnefs ,    fo   my  Mouth  ihall   confefs 
unto  Salvation,  that  unfpeakable  Goodnefs  expreft 
to  Mankind  in  the  later  Ages  of  the  World.   Thou, 
O  Father,   art  the  only  Perfon,  of  whom  we  no 
where  read  that  he  was  fent.     But  of  thy  Son,  the 
Apoftle  hath  inftrucled  Us,  that,  IFhen  the  fulnefs  of  q^\^  j^,^; 
time  was  come^  God  fent  forth  his  Son.   By  faying  Go^ 
fent  him^  he  means  that  the  Perfon  thus  fent  came 
into  the  World  when  he  condefcended  to  be  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary^   and  made  his  appeai'ance  in 
our  Flcih,  a  True  and  Perfect  Man. 

But  what  means  that  paflage  of  the  great  Evange- 
lift,  He  was  in  the  JVorld^  and  the  World  was  made  by  joh.  i.iOf 

C  a,  him? 


x6  MEDITATIONS. 

him  ?  The  fenfe  furc  is,  that  he  was  fent  hither  with 
fegard  to  his  Humanity,  but  was  really  here  before, 
and  ail-along  in  refpc6t  of  his  Divinity.     Now  this 
Miffion  I  believe,   and  thankfully  acknowledge  to 
have  been  the  Work  of  the  whole  Trinity.    But,  O 
Holy  Father,  how  great  was  thy  Love,  and  how 
tender  the  iVlmighty  Creator's  Concern  for  his  poor 
R om .  8 .   Creatures,  wh ich  /pared not  his  own  Son^  but  delivered 
y-  S>  S-   him  up  freely /6/r  iis^  and,  which  is  the  moft  aftonifli- 
ing  Circum fiance  for  us,  zvhile  we  were  yet  Sinners  ! 
Phil.  1.8.  That  Son  became  obedient  unto  death ^  even  the  death  of 
Col  1.14-  the  Crofs J  he  took  the  hand-writing  that  was  againft  us, 
and  nail  d  it  to  that  Crofs  of  his>  thus  crucifying  Sin  and 
flaying  Death.  He  only  was  free  when  in  the  Regions 
Joh.  lo.  of  Death  and  Captivity,  becaufe  He  only  h^id power  to 
^  ^'  lay  down  his  Life^  and  power  to  take  it  up  again^  for  us. 

He  therefore  was  the  Victor  and  the  Vi£bim,  and 
therefore  the  Victor,  becaufe  the  Victim.  He  was 
the  Priefl:  and  the  Sacrifice,  and  for  that  reafon  the 
true  High-Prieft,  becaufe  the  tme  Sacrifice  to  thee 
our  God.  Firm  therefore  are  thofe  Hopes  I  enter- 
tain of  having  all  my  Difeafes  healed  by  Him,  be- 
Heb.  7.  caufe  grounded  upon  his  fitting  at  thy  right-hand^  and 
2  5 .  living  for  ever  to  make  Inter cejfion  for  us.     Thofe  Dif- 

eafes, I  mufl  own,  are  many  and  fore,  for  the  Prince 
of  this  World  hath  much  in  me,  but  I  apply  to  thee 
for  Health,   by  the  Merits  of  that  Redeemer,  ia 
whom  his  Malice  could  find  nothing.     Juftify  me 
John  14.  t>yhim,  who  dad  no  Sin^  neither  was  any  Guile  found  in 
30.^         his  Mouth.     By  that  holy  and  fpotlefs  Head  convey 
I  Pet.  2.  Health  and  Salvation  to  thy  weak  polluted  Member. 
''^*  Deliver  me,  I  befeech  thee,  from  my  finful  Habits, 

my  vicious  Difpofitions,  my  faults  of  Wilfulnefs, 
of  Negligence  and  Ignorance.  Fill  me  w4th  thy 
Grace,  and  help  me  to  excel  and  refemble  thee, 
the  Perfection  of  Goodnels.  Keep  me  fledfall  in 
the  way  of  thy  Commandments,  and  enable  me  to 
grow  and  perfevere  in  Virtue  unto  the  End,  that  I 
may  live  and  die  according  to  thy  IVilh 

CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS.  27 


CHAP.    XIV. 

An  A£i  ofTruft  in,  and  Thankjgivingfor  Chrift 
and  his  Sufferings, 

WHAT  Foundation  could  a  finful  Creature, Heb.  lo. 
laden  with  Guilt  5   and  quite  overwhelmed  ^7- 
with  Frailties,  have  for  Hope?  What  could  poor  I,  ^^^•'' ^'** 
whofe  Confcience  upbraids  mc  with  infinite  Faults 
and  Negleds,  have  lookt  for  but  Judgment  and  fiery 
Indignation^  had  not  thy  Word,  O  God,  been  made 
Flejh^    and  dwelt  among  us?  But  this  marvellous 
Difpenfation  will  no  more  fuffer  me  to  defpair,  than 
my  own  Condition  without  it  could  have  iullified 
my  Hope :  For  who  fhall  dare  to  defpair  when  we, 
even  while  we  were  Enemies ,   were  reconciled  by  the  Rom.  5. 
Death  of  thy  Son -y  and  therefore,  without  all  quefti-  10. 
on,  being  reconciled^  Jhall  much  more  be  faved  by  his 
Life?  This  is  my  Hope,  the  Rock  of  Confidence, 
even  the  precious  Blood  of  thy  Son,  which  he  flied 
for  us,  and  for  our  Salvation.  In  him  I  revive,  and 
take  Courage  to  approach  thee,  not  having  my  ownVhW,  3. 9. 
Righteoufnefs^  or  prefuming  in  any  degree  upon  any 
Work  of  mine,   but  that  Right eoufnefs  which  is  of 
thy  Son  our  Lordjefus  Chrift^   even  the  Righteoufi 
nefs  of  Faith  in  his  Sacrifice  for  me. 

For  this  I  give  thee  my  moil;  unfeigned  Thanks, 
O  tender  Lover  of  Souls,  who  by  thy  Son  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrift,  haft  created  us  again  to  a  new  Life 
when  we  had  made  our  felves  nothing,  worfe  than 
nothings  and  wonderfully  delivered  and  reftored 
us  to  a  Spiritual  Being,  when  we  were  funk  and  ab- 
folutely  loft  in  Sin  and  Mifeiy .  ^      — 

All  Praife  be  to  thy  Fatherly  Compaffion,  which 
from  the  bottom  of  my  Heart  I  admire  and  thankv 
fully  adore,  for  that  inexprefiible  Love  wherewith 
thy  Bowels  yearned  over  undone  Man,  whereby 
thou  didft  extend  to  moft  unworthy  Wretches  fuch 

C  }  m^rvellousi 


28  MEDITATIONS. 


marvellous  Grace,  didll  fend  thy  only  Begotten  out 
of  thy  own  Bofom,  for  our  univerfal  Benefit ,  and 
fave  poor  Sinners,  then  the  Children  of  Wrath  and 
Perdition. 

All  Honour  and  Praife  be  to  thee  for  his  miracu- 
lous Incarnation  and  holy  Nativity,  whereby  he 
took  Fleih  of  the  Sub  fiance  of  his  BlefTed  Mother, 
for  us  and  for  our  Salvation ,  that  as  he  had  been 
before  from  all  Eternity  very  God  of  God ,  fo  he 
might  be  in  time  very  Man  of  Man. 

Glory  and  Praife  be  to  my  God  for  his  PafHon 
und  painful  Crucifixion ,  for  his  Death  and  Refur- 
redlion,  for  his  triumphant  Afcent  into  Heaven, 
A<f^s  I.  ^^^  ^^^  Seffion  of  our  Nature  at  the  right  Hand  of 
the  Majefty  on  high.  For  on  the  fortieth  Day  after 
his  xifing  from  the  Dead,  he  went  up  in  the  fight  of 
his  Difciples  far  above  all  Heavens,  and  from  this 
Throne  did,  according  to  his  mofl  true  Promife, 
fhower  down  the  Holy  Spirit  moil  plentifully  upon 
the  Sons  of  Adoption. 

All  Honour  and  Thankfgiving  be  unto  Thee,  O 
Father,  for  ever,  for  that  fiieddmg  of  his  moll  pre- 
cious Blood  whereby  we  are  redeemed  3  and  for  the 
fweet  Pledges  and  lively  Memorials  of  that  Love, 
the  Holy  and  Life-giving  Sacrament  of  his  Body 
and  Blood ,  whereby  the  Members  of  thy  Church 
are  fupply'd  with  daily  Food  from  Heaven,  wafhed 
and  fanftified  from  their  Sins,  and  admitted  to  be 
Partakers  of  the  Divine  Nature. 

BlefTed,   for  ever-blefTed  be  that  afloniihing  and 

unfpeakable   Goodnefs    which    fo    tenderly   loved 

Wretches  fo  unworthy  of  thy  Love,   and  favcd  a 

perilhing  World  by  thy  only,   thy  befl-loved  Son. 

For  no  inflance  of  thy  Mercy  can  compare  with 

this  5  no  exprefiion  of  it  can  be  carried  higher,  than 

John  3.    that  thou  fhouldll  fp  love  the  World  as  to  give  thy 

I  >  1 7  >  3  ■  f^j^iy  jjQgQitQji  ^Qyi^   fjjat  all  who  belie've  in  him  fiould 

not  perijh^  hut  have  cveriafling  Life :    And  this  is  Life 

V        e^verlajling^  to  know  'Jhee^  the  only  true  God^  and  J  ejus 

Chrijf^ 


MEDITATIONS.  29 


Chrift^  whom  thou  haft  lov'd-y  to  know  Thee  by  a 
right  Faitli,  and  to  manifell  that  Knowledge  by- 
Works  fuitable  to  fuch  a  Faith. 


CHAP.    XV. 
Of  God  the  Fathefs  Love  to  Mankind. 

O  Bowels  unmeafurable !    O  Love  ineflimable  ? 
Thou  delivered:  up  a  Son  to  ranfom  a  Ser- 
vant 5    an  Only,   an  entirely-beloved  Son,    for  a 
wicked  and  rebellious  Servant.     God  was   made 
Man,    that  undone  Man  might  be  refcued  from 
the  tyranny  and  power  of  Devils.     How  infinitely 
kind  was  thy  Son  our  Lord,  how  tender  of  Souls, 
whofe  Pity  was  content  to  floop  fo  low  for  our 
Salvation ,   fo  low,   as  not  only  to  take  our  Nature 
of  his  Virgin  Mother,   but  in  it  to  fhed  the  Blood 
he  took,    and  endure  the  fcandal  and   torture  of 
the  Crofs !     Behold   the   Merciful    and   Gracious 
God,  coming  in  Grace  and  Mercy ,    infinite  from 
his  own  Divine  Eflence,   and  fuch  as  no  Being  but 
God ,   who  is  Love  and  Goodnefs  itfelf ,  could  be 
capable  of  j   coming  to  feek  and  to  fave  that  which  Luk.  15; 
was  loft.    Behold  the  careful  Shepherd  looking  for  4?  5>  6. 
his  flray  Sheep,  fearching  till  he  find  it,  and  when^^^atth.18, 
he  hath  found  it,  carrying  it  back  to  the  fold  upon  ^^* 
his  Shoulders  with  moll  afi:e6tionate  Joy. 

O  the  Love!  O  the  Mercy!  Was  ever  any  thing 
like  this  heard  of?   Who  can  without  Amazement 
think  of  Bov/els  fo  enlarged  ?    Who  can  forbear 
admiring,  adoring,  exulting  v/ith  tranfports  of  Joy, 
at  the  infinite  Goodnefs  of  Thee,  my  God ,   and 
the  Love  wherewith  thou  lovedll  us  ?  'thou  fent eft  thy  Rom. 8. 3 . 
own  Son  in  the  Ukenefs  offtnful  Flefto^andfor  Sindidft 
condemn  Sin^  that  we  might  he  made  thy  Righteoufmfs  in  2  Cor.  5. 
him.   For  "  this  is  the  very  Pafchal  Lamb  without 2- 1- 
*'  Blemifh.  and  without  Spot,  who  by  his  Death  hath 

C  4  "  deflroyed 


30  MEDITATIONS. 


'^  deftroyed  Death,  and  by  his  rifing  to  Life  again, 
^^  hath  reflored  to  usEverlaftingLife. 

But  what,  alas !  are  we  able  to  repay  Thee  for 
fuch  wonderful  Benefits,  fuch  aftoniHiing  Demon- 
ftrations  of  thy  Concern  for  us  ?  What  Praifes, 
what  Thankfgivings  are  fufficient  ?  Though  Thou 
fhouldfl  impart  to  us  all  the  Knowledge  and  Wif- 
dotn,  all  the  Aftivity  and  Power  of  Angels  which 
wait  continually  about  thy  Throne,  and  execute 
all  thy  Pleafure,  yet  could  we  not  be  qualified  for 
any  A6bion  worthy  fo  vaft  a  Favour :  Tho'  every 
Limb  were  a  Tongue,  yet  could  we  not  even  thus 
found  forth  thy  Praifes  as  they  deferve :  For  even 
Angels  themfelves  are  too  weak  to  comprehend  the 
Depth  and  Glories  of  this  Myftery,  infinite  as  thy 
felf,  and  therefore  fuch  as  could  only  be  effeded , 
fuch  as  can  perfedly  be  known,  by  thy  own 
Knowledge  only,  infinite  as  thy  own  Goodnefs. 
How  have  we  deferved,  that  thy  Son,  and  our  God 

Heb.2.i6.  fhould  take  upon  him  not  the  nature  of  Angels^  hut 
Jhould  take  the  Seed  of  Ahraham  3  that  he  fhould  be* 
come  like  to  us  Mortals  in  all  things,  fin  only  excepted -^ 
that  he  fhould  honour  this  Mortality  with  the  Glor 
lies  of  his  Refurreftion,  with  a  Crown  of  Immorr 
tality  5  that  he  fhould  exalt  it  far  above  all  Hea- 
vens, above  all  the  Troops  of  Angels,  above  Che^ 
rubim  and  Seraphim,  and  place  it  at  thy  own  right 
handj  that  Angels  fhould  praife,  that  Dominions 
fliould  adore,  that  all  the  Powers  of  Heaven  fhould 
fall  down,  and  humble  themfelves  before,  and  call: 
their  Crowns  at  the  Feet  of  this  Man  and  God  in 
one  Perfon,  feated  in  Dignity  fo  far  above  them  all !  . 
This  Exaltation  is  my  joyful  Hope  j  this  my 
firm  and  only  Confidence :  For  even  that  Jefus,  in 
that  glorious  Lord ,   is  a  part  of  every  one  of  us  j 

Eph.5.30.  We  are  of  his  Flefh^hisBlood^andhisBones.'^ossi  where 
a  part  oiF  me  already  reigns,   there  I  believe  my  felf 
fhall  reign  alfo  5   and  in  the  Triumphs  and  Glories 
of  His  Flcih  5   I  plainly  fee  and  am  afiured  of  the 

Honoiu's 


MEDITATIONS.  31 

Honours  done  to  my  own.  Though  I  am  a  mife- 
rable  Sinner,  yet  the  participation  of  this  Grace 
will  not  fuffer  me  to  dclpond  :  And,  if  my  own 
Vilenefs  exclude  me  from  this  Blifs,  yet  my  Sub- 
Hance  already  admitted  to  it ,  opens  a  pafTage  for 
me  thither  too.  For  God  is  not,  cannot  be,  (b 
unnatural,  as  to  forget  that  Manhood,  with  which 
himfelf  is  cloathed,  which  he  put  on  for  my  fake, 
and  which  he  will  one  Day  receive  to  Himfelf  for 
my  unfpeakable  Benefit. 

No,  no,  our  God  is  merciful  and  gracious,   ten- 
der-hearted, and  of  great  Goodnefs.     He  loves  his 
own  Flefh,   his  own  Body,   and  his  own  Bowels. 
That  Fleili  of  ours,   in  which  he  rofc  from  the 
dead,    and  afcended  into  Heaven,  and  now  does  fit 
in  Heavenly  Places ,    cannot  but  love  us,   becaufe 
this  in  effect  is  but  to  love  it  felf :    We  have  the 
Privilege  of  our  own  Blood  flowing  in  His  Veins : 
We  are  his  Body,   and  his  Subflance.     He  is  our 
Head,  from  whence  the  Members  are  derived ,   to 
which  they  are  infeparably  united ,   and  of  Us  alfo 
is  that  Ordinance  of  God  in  the  firft  Creation  ve- 
rified, that  He  is  the  Bone  of  my  Bone^  andFleJh  of  ?ny  Gen.  2. 
Flefh'i  md  we  'Two  are  no  more  Two^  hut  One  Flefh ;  23. 
Now  the  Apoflle  tells  us,  and  if  he  had  not,  even  M-^t.ip.^. 
Nature  it  felf  tells  us ,    that  no  Man  ever  yet  hated  Ephef.  5. 
his  own  Flefh ^  but  loveth  and  cherifloeth  it.  And  this  29,30,31, 
principle  of  Nature  he  hath  juftified  the  applicati-  32.. 
on  of  to  our  own  eternal  Comfort,  and  molt  aflur- 
ed  Hope,  when  he  adds  thofe  remarkable,  thofe  moil 
precious  Words,  This  is  a  great  My  fiery  ^  hut  Ifpeak 
concerning  Chrifi  and  the  Church, 


C  H  A  P, 


7,1  MEDITATIONS. 


F 


C  HA  P.    XVI. 

Of  the  Two  Natures  in  Chrift, 

O  R  this  caiife,  O  Lord  my  God,  my  Tongue^ 

my  Heart,    tny   every  Faculty,   ihall   never 

ceafe  to  magnify  thy  mniute  Loving-kindnefs  for 

all  the  Miracles  of  Mercy  which  thou  haft  been 

pleafed  to  work  for  the  Relief  of  wretched  Man, 

by  the  Miniftry  and  Mediation  of  thy  BlefTed  Son,  the 

great  Reftorer  of  thy  loft  World.     That  Son,  ^jjha 

Bom.  4.   died  for  our  Offences^  and  rofe  again  for  our  Juftifi' 

25'  cation 'y    and  now  liveth  for  ever  at  thy  right-hand 

making  Inter cejjion  continually  for  us :  That  Son,  who 

joins  with  Thee  in  extending  the  Mercy  for  which 

he  intercedes,  bccaufe  he  is  of  Thee  and  with  Thee, 

the  fame  very  and  eternal  God ,    which  makes  him 

Heb.  7.    able  for  ever  tofave  them  that  come  to  thee  by  him  .-That 

25-  Son,  who  even  as  Man,tho'  in  that  refpeft  inferior 

Matth.28.  to  thy  Divine  Majefty,  hath  all  Power  given  to  him 

^^'  in  Heaven  and  in  Earth  ^  that  at  the  name  ofjefus  eve- 

10^  1 1*     ^•^'  ^^^^  7^^//  bow^  of  things  in  Heaven^  and  things  on 

Earthy   and  things  under  the  Earth  >  and  that  every 

'Tongue  fjjould  confefs  that  Jefus  Chrifi  is  Lord^  to^  and 

A^s  10.    ^'^  th  Glory ^  O  God  the  Father,   This  is  he  whom  thou 

4i-  haft  ordained  to  be  the  Judge  both  of  the  ^ick  and  the 

John  5.22.  Dead  j  for  Thou  thy  felf judge  ft  no  Man^  but  haft  com- 

^^ '  ^*  ^  mitted  all  Judgment  to  thy  Son^   in  whom  are  hid  all 

theTreafures  of  Wifdom  and  Knowledge. 

Now  He  is  both  the  Witnefs  and  the  Judge  \ 

that  Judge,   and  that  Witnefs,   whofe  difcerning 

Heb. 4. 1 2.  Eye  no  guilty  Confcience  canefcape:  For  all  things 

are  naked  and  open  in  his  fight.    Thus  He,  who  did 

Acls  17.  himfelf  fubmit  to  a  moft  unrighteous  Judgment, 

3V  pall  judge  the  World  in  Righteoufnefs^  and  the  People 

^ial.  98.   ^,^y^^  Equity.  I  magnify  thy  Holy  Name,  O  Almighty 

and  moft  Merciful  God ,   and  from  the  bottom  of 

fiiy  Heart  give  Glory  to  Thee,   for  this  wonderful 

Con-? 


10. 


MEDITATIONS.  33 

Conjunftion  of  the  Divine  and  Humane  Nature  in 
one  Perfon ,  that  fo  One  might  not  be  God,  and 
Another  be  Man  >  but  that  one  and  the  fame  fhould 
be  God  and  Man ,  Man  and  God.  But  notwith- 
llanding  thy  Divine  IVord  did,  by  a  moll  aftonifh- 
ing  Condefcenfion,  fuffer  himfelf  to  be  made  Flefi^]ij\i,i,i^. 
yet  both  thefe  Natures  ilill  remained  diftin6b  and 
perfe6t,  and  neither  was  changed  into,  or  fwallow- 
ed  up  in  the  other.  There  was  no  addition  of  a 
Fourth  Perfon  to  the  Trinity  by  this  amazing  Dif- 
penfation  5  no  confuiion  of  Subflance,  but  an  exa6t 
Unity  fo  ordered  by  thy  excellent  Wifdom ,  that 
the  Subilance  taken  anew  fhould  approach,  and 
be  joyn'd  to  God>  and  that  of  which  it  could  ne- 
ver be  faid  that  it  was  not ,  ihould  Hill  continue 
\vhat  it  always  was. 

O  marvellous  Myflery  !  O  inexplicable  Conjunc- 
tion !  O  Mercy  moft  adorable,  ever  to  be  admired, 
ever  to  be  lov'd !  We  were  not  worthy  to  be  call'd 
thy  Servants,  and  thou  hall  made  us  Sons  j  Sons  of 
God,  not  only  Sons  hut  Heirs  too^  Heirs  of  God^  and  Rom.  8. 
Joint  Heirs  with  Chrifi.  Whence  is  this  mighty  Fa-  i7- 
vour  ?    Who  are  we,    that  the  King  of  Heaven 
ihould  thus  dehght  to  Honour  us?  Nothing,  alas! 
and  even  lefs  than  nothing.   But  Unce,  O  Gracious 
Father,   thou  hall  been  pleafed  to  do  great  things 
for  us ,   I  bcfeech  thee ,    by  thy  own  unfpeakable 
Love,  to  perfeft  the  good  Work  thou  hall  begun  j 
and  make  us  fuch ,   as  thy  many  and  gracious  Pro- 
mifes  in  Jefus  Chrill  were  deligned  to  be  accom- 
plilhed  in.     Send  down  thy  Grace  and  Spirit  from 
above,   and  let  this  qualify  us  to  receive  the  ful- 
nefs  of  thy  Mercy,      Help  us  to  underlland   and 
conlider  with  reverence,  to  contemplate,  and  with 
all  diligence  to  w^alk  worthy  of  this  Myflery  God-  i  Tim.  3, 
linefs^  this  Son  of  God,  manifefted  in  the  Fleflo^juf-  ^^• 
tified  in  the  Spirit^  feen  of  Angels^  peached  unto  the 
Gentiles^   believed  on  in  the  World  ^  received  up  into 
Glory, 

CHAP. 


34  MEDITATIONS. 


CHAP.    XVII. 


Of  the  Thanks  due  to  God  for  the  Redemption 
of  the  World. 


H 


'OW  vainly  are  we  indebted  to  thy  Bounty,  O 
Lord,  whom  thou  haft  redeemed  with  fo  pre- 
cious a  ranfom ,  faved  with  fo  noble  a  Gift,  ho- 
noured with  fo  high  a  Privilege  !  What  Fear, 
what  Reverence,  what  Love,  what  Thanks,  what 
Praife,  and  Glory,  ought  wretched  Sinners  to  pay 
to  a  God,  who  hath  thus  pitied,  thus  loved,  thus 
refcued,  thus  fan6i:ified,  thus  exalted  them  !  The 
whole  of  our  Ability ,  the  whole  of  our  Know- 
ledge, our  veiy  Life  and  Being  is  all  of  it  thy  juft 
Tribute.  But  alas !  what  Ability  hath  any  of  us, 
what  can  we  do,  or  what  indeed  are  we,  which  is 
not  thine  already  ?  Thou  therefore,  from  whom 
all  good  things  do  come,  impart  to  us,  for  thy  own 
Names  fake,  of  thy  good  Treafure,  that  of  thy 
own  good  Gifts,  we  may  give  back  again  to  Thee  5 
and  by  thy  Grace  be  enabled  to  ferve  and  pleale 
Thee  in  faithfulnefs  and  truth,  and  to  render  Thee 
due  and  daily  Praife  for  all  thy  works  of  Mercy, 
yea,  even  for  the  very  Power  of  rendring  Thee  this 
Praife. 

For  alas !  we  are  very  fenfible  that  the  veiy  Pow- 
er of  ferving  and  pleafingThec  is  entirely  thy  Gift  : 
Jam  .1.17.  Since  every  good  Gift^  and  perfe5l  Gift  is  from  ahove^ 
and  Cometh  down  from  the  Father  of  Lights^  with  whom 
is  no  variablenefs^  neither  fJjadow  of  turning.  And  in 
this  fenfe  we  addrefs  to  thee,  O  Father  Almighty, 
acknowledging  thy  Power  >  O  Father  of  Mercy, 
depending  on  thy  Goodnefs  5  O  Lord  incompre- 
henlible,  adoring  thy  infinite  Excellencies  5  O 
Maker  and  Reftorer  of  all  things  by  thy  Son  Jefus 
Chrift,  in  confidence  of  thy  Love  through  that 
fwecteft  Saviour ,   whom  thou  haft  vouchlafed  to 

fepd 


MEDITATIONS. 3^ 

fend  out  of  thy  own  Bofom  for  our  common  Bene- 
fit i  to  take  our  Life,  that  He  might  give  us  His : 
to  be  perfe6t  Man,  of  the  Subftance  of  his  Mother, 
as  He  is  perfect  God  of  the  Subftance  of  Thee  his 
Father  j  perfect  God  and  perfect  Man,  but  ftill  one 
Chrift,  begotten  from  Eternity,  and  born  in  Time, 
Immortal  and  Mortal,  Creator  and  Creature, 
Strong  and  Weak,  Vi6tor  and  Vanquifhed,  the 
Nourifher  and  the  Nouriihed,  the  Shepherd  and 
the  Sheep,  dead  for  a  Seafon,  and  yet  ever  living  / 
with  Thee :  In  the  Name  therefore  of  this  wonder- 
ful Perfon  we  approach  Thee  j  and  well  we  may, 
fince  He  who  cannot  lye  hath  left  this  joyful  Aflli- 
rance  with  all  that  love  him,  'That  whatfoe^uer  fuch  John  i^. 
jJmll  afk  the  Father  in  his  Name^  he  will  not  fail  to  ^3* 
give  it  them. 

Therefore  by  this  Great,   this  True,  this  Only 
perfe6b  High-Prieft,  this  Biihop  of  Souls,  who  of-  Heb.  9; 
fered  Himfelf  a  fpotlefs  and  propitiatory  Sacrifice  i4« 
to  thy  Juflice^  by  this  good  Shepherd^  who  laid  down  John  10: 
his  Life  for  the  Sheep  5  by  this  Mediator  and  Redeem-  1 1» 
er,  \j\\o  fitteth  at  Thy  right  hand^  making  Inter cejjion 
for  us^  I  implore  thy  Mercy,  O  moll  tender  LovTr 
of  Mankind,  that  Thou,  this  Son  of  Thine,   and 
Thy  bleilcd  Spirit,  would  grant  me  Grace  worthily 
and   conftc^ntly   to   magnify  thy  Glorious  Name, 
with  deep  Remorfe  and  godly  Sorrow  for  my  Sins, 
with  Humility  and  Plenty  of  Tears  j  with  profound 
Reverence,   with  Fear  and  Trembling.     And  for 
this  1  entreat  the  whole  Trinity  of  Perfons,  who 
being  all  united  in  the  fame  Subftance,  muft  of  ne- 
cefiity  be  join'd  in  the  fame  Mk.  of  giving. 

But  being  fadly  fenfible  withal,  that  the  Spirit  Wifd.  9. 
w^ithin  me,  how  willing  foever  of  it  felf,  is  yet  is- 
weaken'd  and  weigh 'd  down  by  this  corruptible 
Body  J  I  beg  that  Thou  wouldil  ftir  up  and  quick- 
en my  Stupidity  >  and  fo  aduate  this  heavy  Lump, 
that  I  may  vigoroufly  attend  to,  and  ftedfaftly  per- 
fevere  in,  the  ways  of  thy  Commandments,  and 

the 


3<^ 


MEDITATIONS. 


the  proper  Methods  of  giving  Thee  true  Praife  Day 
Pfal. 394  and  Night.    O  let  my  Spirit  wax  hot  within  me^  and  in 
my  mufings  let  the  holy  Fire  hiirft  out.    And  in  regard 
Joh.  6.44  thy  own  Son  hath  declared,  xh^tno  Mancometh  unto 
Him  except  he  be  drawn  of  the  Father  >  and  again,  that 
14.6.       no  Man  cometh  to  tJ:^  Father  but  by  him:  Draw  me, 
I  mofl  humbly  pray  thee,  continually  to  Him,  that 
He  at  laft  may  bring  me  to  "thee  j  even  to  thoie 
happy  Manfions  where  he  now  fits  at  thy  right- 
hand  5   where  there  is  Life  and  Blifs  everlafling; 
where  joyful  Love  abounds,    and  Fear  is  done  a- 
way  j  where  there  is  eternal  Day,  and  perfect  agree- 
ment of  Souls  -y  certain  Security,  and  fecure  Quiet  5 
Pleafure  and  exquilite  Happinefs  j   happy  Eternity, 
and  eternal  Bleflednefs,    even  the  ravifhing  Sight, 
and  the  never-ceafing  Praife  of  Thee  the  Great  and 
Glorious  God :    Where  Thou,  with  that  Blefled 
Son,  as  does  that  Blefled  Son  with  Thee,  livefl  and 
reignelt  in  the  Unity  of  the  fame  Divine  Spirit,  e- 
ver  one  God,  World  without  end.     Amen. 


CHAP.    XVIII. 

A  devout  Tracer  to  Chrijt. 

MY. Hope,  my  Chrifl,  my  God^  Saviour  and 
Lover  of  Men,  thou  Light  and  Way,  thou 
Life  and  Health,  thou  Gloiy  and  Grace  of  all 
that  love  and  ferve  thee!  Look  down  from  the 
Throne  of  thy  Majefty,  and  in  the  midfh  of  Blifs 
remember  the  Injuries  and  Sufferings,  the  Scourges 
and  the  Crofs,  the  Wounds  and  Death  which  thou 
endureft>  and  think  with  Favour  on  thy  Suppli- 
ant, for  whofe  fake  thou  wall:  pleafed  to  endure 
and  do  fo  much. 

•  Thou  art  my  living  and  true  God  r,  my  holy  Fa- 
ther, my  gentle  and  kind  Mailer,  my  great  King, 

my 


MEDITATIONS.  37 

my  good  Shepherd,  my  only  Teacher,  my  moft 
ready  and  efFeclual  Helper,  my  deareit  and  moft 
beautiful  Spoufe,  my  true  and  living  Bread,  my 
everlafbing  High  -  Priefl; ,  my  Guide  to  my  own 
Country,  my  true  Light,  my  right  Way,  my  bcft 
Wifdom,  my  holy  Delight,  my  unfpotted  Purity, 
my  Reconciliation  and  Peace,  my  fure  Defence } 
my  moft  defirable  Portion  j  my  eternal  Healthy 
my  unbounded  Mercy  j  my  invincible  Patience  > 
my  unblemiflied  Sacrifice  j  my  perfe6t  Redemption  ; 
my  afiiired  Hope  5  my  univerfal  Charity  >  my  Re- 
furre6lion  from  the  Dead  5  my  everlailing  Life; 
my  Joy  and  Beatifick  Vifion  for  ever.  Of  thee  I 
beg  that  I  may  walk  by  thee,  come  to  thee,  reft 
in  thee,  O  thou  IVay^  thou'TrMth^  thou  Li fe^  "without  ]oh..iJi^6, 
which  no  Man  cometh  to  the  Father.  Thou,  even 
Thou,  art  the  Blefling  my  Soul  wants,  and  moft 
earneftly  defires,  my  fweeteft,  lovelieft,  only  Lord. 
O  Brightnefs  of  thy  Father's  Glory,  who  from 
thy  Throne  far  above  the  Cherubim  feeft  all  the 
Secrets  of  the  Great  Deep !  Thou  true,  enlivening, 
unexhaufted  Light,  which  Angels  long  to  be 
illuminated  with,  and  fpend  glad  Ages  in  behold- 
ing! fpring  forth  into  my  Soul,  and  fcatter  the 
thick  Darknefs  there,  that  the  Brightnefs  of  thy 
Love  may  fhine  and  fhed  it  felf  through  every  cor- 
ner of  my  benighted  Heart.  Give  me  thy  felf^ 
O  God,  give  me  thy  Love  in  return,  for  that  I  love 
thee  thou  knoweft  j  and  if  it  be  too  little,  I  defire  '■ 
to  love  thee  more  ardently.  I  cannot  make  fuch 
exa6t  reckoning  of  my  Love,  as  to  know  how 
much  I  fall  fhort  of  that  Affeftion  which  I  ought  to 
have,  that  fo  my  every  Action  and  Defire  might 
carry  me  to  thy  Embraces,  fly  to  thy  Arms,  and 
never  ceafe  the  purfuit  of  my  Lord,  till  I  be  hid  in 
the  fecret  place  of  thy  prefence.  But  though  I 
cannot  take  a  precife  meafure  of  my  Dcfe6ts,  and 
how  much  better  I  ought  to  be,  yet  this  I  know, 
and  from  my  own  experience  can  declare,  that  all 

with" 


38 


MEDITATIONS. 


without,  nay,  all  befides  Thee  avails  me  nothing ; 
all  about,  all  within  is  Defolation  and  Mifery  5  what- 
ever the  foolifh  World  calls  Plenty,  is  nothing  -,  and 
all  but  my  God  is  Poverty,  and  the  very  extremity 
of  Want. 

For  Thou  alone  art  that  God,  which  cannot  ad- 
mit of  either  Diminution  or  Increafe  5  To  Thee 
to  live  and  to  be  happy  is  the  fame  thing,  who  art 
Happineis  it  felf  But  thy  Creature,  with  whom 
thefe  things  may  be  feparated,  and  who  may  either 
not  live,  or  live  and  be  unhappy,  ought  to  afcribe 
the  whole  benefit  of  both  Life  and  Happinefs  to 
thy  fole  Gift  and  Favour.  Hence  it  is  that  we  Hand 
in  continual  need  of  Thee,  but  Thou  haft  none  of 
us :  For,  if  we  had  no  Being  at  all,  that  would  not 
lefTen  in  any  degree  that  Happinefs,  which  is  infe- 
parable  from  thy  Being  j  nay,  is  indeed  thy  very 
Being.  It  is  therefore  abfolutely  necefTary  for  us 
to  cleave  ftedfaftly  to  the  Lord  our  God,  that  by 
thy  continual  Afliftance  we  may  be  enabled  to  live 
Tit.i.ii.Joberly^  right eoujly^  and  godly ^  in  this  prefent  World, 
For  this  load  of  FlelTi  and  Frailty  cumbers  and 
drags  us  down,  but  the  Gifts  of  thy  Spirit  are  a 
happy  Counterpoize  to  this  heavy  Clog.  By  thele 
we  feel  the  fluggilh  Mafs  warm'd  and  put  into  Mo- 
tion j  we  rife  and  mount  upwards  in  Heart  and 
Mind  'y  we  fing  Songs  of  Degrees^  and,  inflam'd  with 
thy  divine  Fire,  burn  with  holy  Zeal  and  foar  aloft 
fuccefsfully. 

But  whither  is  it  that  thefe  Flights  would  carry 

us  ?  Even  to  the  Peace  of  Jerufalem :  According  to 

Pfal.  111.  that  of  the  Pfalmift^  I  was  glad  when  they  faid unto 

1.  me^  M^e  will  go  into  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,   There  hath 

his  Goodnefs  prepared  a  Place  for  us,  that  the  fum 

of  all  our  Wiihes  and  Defires  ftiould  be  to  fet  up  our 

1  Cor.  5.  Reft  there  for  ever.     For,  in  regard  we  are  ahfent 

^-  from  the  Lord^   during  the  time  of  our  fojourning 

Keb.  13.  in  this  Tabernacle  of  the  Body,  ^w^  han;e  (it  is  ma- 

4'  nifeft)  no  continuing  city  here^  but  are  feeking  one  to 

come-. 


MEDITATIONS.  3^ 


come  y  we  lodge  in  a  moveable  Tent,  and  are  Tra- 
vellers and  Strangers  in  a  foreign  Land,  but  we 
are  free  Denizens  of  Heaven,  and  our  Home,  and  Phil. 3  20. 
all  our  Privileges  and  Properties  are  there.  I  will 
therefore  move  under  the  Conduct  of  thy  Grace  j 
I  will  retire  into^the  Clofet  of  my  Heart,  and  en*  . 
tertain  my  Soul  with  Songs  of  Love  to  Thee,  my 
King  and  my  God  5  with  tender  Sighs  and  Groan- 
ings  which  cannot  be  uttcr'd>  in  the  Houfe  of  my 
Pilgrimage,  which  the  Contemplation  of  thy  Righ- 
teoufnefs'  lliall  foften,  while  it  is  made  the  Subjed 
of  my  Joy  and  Praife. 

And  can  I  think  upon  Jerufakm  without  llretch- 
ing  forward  all  the  Delires  of  my  Soul  to  that  Re- 
gion of  Bhfs?  Jerufakm^  the  Country,  the  common 
Mother  of  us  alls  and  Thee  my  God,  that  rcigneit  Pfal. 4 i^. 
there  in  Glory  ^  the  Light  of  that  Holy  City,  the 
Father  and  Defender,  the  Governour  and  the 
Shepherd. 5  the  chaile,  but  exquifite  Delights  that 
abound  there  -,  the  fubllantial  Joy,  and  all  th^ 
unfpeakable  Felicities  united  in  Thee,  who  art  the 
True,  the  Supreme,  the  Only  Felicity  of  thy  Peo- 
ple. O  let  me  not ,  I  befeech  Thee,  turn  back, 
or  go  out  of  the  Way,  but  proceed  continually 
in  my  AfFedions,  till  thou  at  laft  bring  my  whole 
•Spirit,  and  Soul,  and  Body  into  the  peaceful  Man- 
fibns,  where  my  Heart  is  already  fixed :  The  firft  Rom,  8. 
Fruits  of  the  Spirit  I  already  tafte,  impart  to  meis- 
the  whole  Lump,  and  fatiate  my  Soul  with  the 
Joys  which  I  now  anticipate.  Colle6t  my  fcat- 
ter'd  Thoughts,  and  take  off  the  Blemifhes  and  De- 
formities of  my  prefent  Frailties,  till  thou  hail 
wrought  me  up  to  a  refemblance  of  thy  Beauty, 
and  eilabhUi'd  me  for  ever  in  the  Glories  of  thy 
BlelTcd  Prefencc,  O  God  of  my  Mercy, 


D  CHAP. 


40  MEDITATIONS. 


CHAP.    XIX. 

The  Souls  of  the  Righteous  are  the  Houfe  of  God. 


T 


^His  Houfe  of  thine,  my  God,  is  not  built  of 
Earthly,  nor  of  any  fuch  Heavenly,  but 
Corporeal  Matter,  as  the  Orbs  above  are  formed 
of  5  but  is  Spiritual  and  Eternal,  without  Flaw  or 
Decay.     For  thou  hall  fet  it  faft  for  ever  and  ever^ 

Pfal.  14S.  ^nd  founded  it  upon  a  decree  which  fh all  not  he  broken. 

^'  Thou  haft  given  it  a  duration  equal  to  thy  own, 

and  end  it  {hall  have  none,  though  it  had  a  begin- 

Eccl.  24-  I'iing.     For  IVifdom  was  created  in  the  beginning : 

I.  Not  that  eflential  Wifdom  coeternal  with  the  Fa- 

Joh.  1.3.  ther,  by  whom  all  things  were  made^  but  that  which 
is  created  but  Spiritual  Subftance,  the  Rational  and 
Intelle6tual  Mind,  which  is  Light  by  contemplati- 
on of  Light,  and  in  a  qualified  fenfe  Ityl'd  Wifdom, 
though  it  be  finite  and  created.  But  as  there  is  a 
mighty  difference  between  original  Light,  and  that 
which  is  derived  from,  and  caufcd  by  the  reflecti- 
on of  it  j  fo  is  there  between  Thee  the  perfe61:  un- 
created Wifdom,  and  that  which  is  thy  Creature, 
and  thy  Image.  Thus  alfo  we  diftinguifh  between 
the  Righteoufnefs  which  juftifies,  (the  Righteouf- 
nefs  of  God )  and  that  which  is  attributed  to  the 
Perfons  juftified  by  it :  In  w^iich  laft  fenfe,  the  A- 

2  Cor.  j.poftle  fays  we  are  made  the  Righteoufnefs  of  God^  in 

21.  Thee  his  Son,  our  Lord. 

The  Ground  of  which  Diftinction  lies  in  this, 
that  the  firft  of  all  thefe  Creatures  was  Wifdom  j 
that  rational  Power,  of  which  thy  City  confifts, 
which  is  above 'y  and  free^  the  ch-^ii^iQ:  Mother  of  us  all 
for  ever  in  the  Heavens,  even  in  that  Heaven  of 
Heavens  whidi  continually  praifes  God,  and  is  to 
,.hifn  the  Heaven  of  Heavens  indeed.  And  though 
we  can  aflign  no  point  of  Time  antecedent  to  this 
noble  Worfcmanfhip  of  thine,  which  had  a  being 

be- 


MEDITATIONS.  41 


before  Time  it  felf  was  :  Yet  Thou  the  Eternal 
Creator  art  before  it,  and  from  Thee  it  derives 
its  Eternity  and  its  Beginning.  It  is  therefore  of 
Thee  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  be  a  Subftance  di- 
ftin6t  from  Thee:  It  is  quahfied  to  behold  thy 
Face  always,  and  never  to  be  deprived  of  that  Blef- 
fed  Vifion.  In  this  refpeiSl  it  undergoes  no  change, 
and  yet  it  is  hable  to  change  5  for  this  Light  may 
grow  dim  and  cold ,  if  not  fed  and  Jkept  bright  by 
the  Fire  of  fervent  Love,  which  when  wellchcriih- 
ed,  conveys  into  it  a  Heat  and  Lullre  clearer  and 
warmer  than  the  Noon-day  Sun. 

By  this  moft  Holy  Love  it  is  fo  clofely  united  to 
Thee,  the  True,  the  Eternal  God,  that  though 
it  be  not  of  the  (iime  Eternity  from  the  beginning, 
yet  no  length  of  future  Time,  no  change  of  For- 
tune or  Affairs,  fliall  ever  dillblve  or  loofen  itj 
but  it  ihall  reft  and  be  employed  for  ever  in  the 
ravifhing  Contemplation  of  thy  divine  Excellen- 
cies. For  Thou,  O  God,  art  bountiful  to  all  that 
love  thee  y  aud  wilt  reveal  thy  felf  to  luch  as  feek 
thee,  in  meafures  large  as  their  Capacities  admit, 
or  at  lead  as  their  Neceflities  require.  This  keeps 
thy  Servants  fteady  to  Thee  and  to  Themfelves. 
This  preferves  the  Soul  in  the  fame  happy  State, 
while  its  Eyes  are  ever  intent,  its  Affediions  ever 
fixed  upon  Thee  >  while  it  beholds,  and  loves  and 
delights  in  that  God  who  is  true  Light,  and  pure 
Love.  O  Blefled  noble  Creature,  the  firfl  and 
beft  of  all  the  Works  of  God  !  but  then  moft  blef- 
fed,  when  dwelling  upon  thy  Mafter's  blefled  Per- 
fections 'y  then  happy  beyond  all  ExprefHon,  when 
entertaining  that  Divine  Inhabitant,  and  illuftrated 
with  the  enlivening  Beams  of  that  Glorious  Spring 
of  Light  from  on  high ! 

What  can  I  fuppofe  deferves  that  magnificent 
Name,  T'be  Heaven  of  Hewjcns  ?  What  can  be  e- 
fteem'd  the  higheft  and  moft  beloved  Habitation  of 
Godj  rather  than  this  fpiritual  Houfej  the  Purity 

D  2»  and 


-WSb. 


41 MEDITATIONS. 

and  Zeal  of  a  Mind  at  Unity  in  it  felf^  always  tranf- 
ported  with  the  Pleafure  of  beholding  the  divine 
Glory  >  always  enamour'd  with  God,  without  ad- 
mitting any  Rival,  and  Partner  in  its  Love.  This  is 
the  Rock  on  which  blefled  Spirits  are  built  >  thele 
the  Heavenly  Satisfactions  in  Heavenly  Places  >  this 
the  foretafte  of  future  Joys ,  and  the  aflurance  of 
every  wayfaring  Soul,  that  tho'  it  fojourn  at  prefent 
in  a  ilrange  Land,  and  at  a  great  dillance  from 
thee,  yet  if  it  thirfl  and  pant  after  thee,  if  its  god-^ 
iy  Tears  are  its  Meat  Day  and  Night,  if  the  dwel- 
ling thus  above  hereafter  aH  the  days  of  its  Life  be 
its  conilant  wilh  and  endeavour ,  its  longing  ihall 
one  day  be  fatisfied  with  the  pleafures  of  thy  Houfe, 
and  all  its  pious  Mournings  turned  into  Joy.  From 
this  Bhfs  then  and  Duration  of  thcJir  own,  let  our 
Souls  raife  therafelves  to  form  fuch  Ideas  of  thine, 
as  their  prefent  Condition  can  receive.  For  what 
notions  mull  we  have  of  this  Blefledncfs^  and  how 
vail  is  thy  Eternity  ,  when  even  this  Created 
Houfe  of  thine,  when  keeping  at  hotne  with  thee, 
though  it  partake  not  of  the  fame  unbounded  Eter- 
nity:, yet  by  its  Union  with  its  Glorious  Maker 
and  Inhabitant,  Hands  proof  againft  all  chance  of 
Time  j  and  perfevering  by  thy  gracious  Influences, 
is  firm,  notwithftanding  the  Polfibility  of  Change 
which  it  is  fubje£t  to :  Secured  by  thy  Prefence, 
aud  by  its  own  conftant  Affe6tion ,  and  thofe  li- 
beral Communications  of  thy  Grace  ,  which  it 
drinks  in,  and  Fealb  upon  continually:  It  looks 
at  nothing  beyond  Thee,  as  a  future  addition  to 
its  Happinefs  >  it  is  afflicted  with  no  troublefom 
Remembrances  of  any  thing  paft ,  which  fhould 
embitter  or  lefTen  the  Prefent,  but  is  entirely  blefl 
with  the  Enjoyment  of  that  God,  who  hath  in 
Mercy  made  it  like  himfelf,  and  knit  it  to  himfelf 
-with  the  ftrongeft  Cement  of  inviolable  Love,  and 
fuch  a  fulnefs  of  Satisfa^Stion,  as  neither  fuffers  nor 
"4efires  a  Change. 
I:.:  .    .  CHAR 


M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  O  ISJ  S. 


43 


Tsx-u  ■.  — .~ji':v.-^— 


CHAP.     XX. 

ne  'Pious  Soul's  Longing  for  Heave7i. 

LORD  !  how  have  I  lov'd  the  habitation  of  thy  Pfal.26. 8. 
Hoiife^  and  the  j^lace  where  thine  Honour  dweU 
leth  !  O  Glorious  Seat !  the  Reiidence  and  theWorJc- 
manihip  of  the  Great,  the  Mighty  God  :  Let  xne 
fcontinue,  let  me  encreafe  in  this  Love  of  thee  mpre 
and  more.  Let  this  weary  Pilgrimage  be  fpent  in 
advancing  daily  toward  thee,  and  may  the  gafping 
of  my  Soul  after  thee  fanclify  and  comfort  the  La- 
bours of  each  day,  and  refrefh  my  waking  Thoughts 
by  night.  Let  my  Heart  be  always  where  my  Trea-  Mat.6.?.o, 
fure  is  already :  And,  in  this  dry  and  defolate  Wil- 
dernefs,  may  I  feel  no  other  Thirll  than  that  of  ar- 
rivfng  at  my  Hcaycnly  Canaan^  and  partaking  in  the 
Society  and  the  Joys  of  that  happy /^(?o^/^  who  hiziepf^],  x^. 
the  Lord  for  their  God.  O  may  that  God  who  inade  15. 
both  Me  and  Thee  poflefs  Me  in  Thee !  Not  that  I 
dare  prefume  to  hope  for  thy  Beavity  and  Blifs,  upon 
the  account  of  any  deferts  of  my  own  j  but  yet, 
the  humbled;  fenfe  of  my  own  unworthinefs  wi]l 
not  fink  me  into  defpair  of  it,  when  I  reficft  upon 
the  Blood  of  Him  who  dy'd  to  purchafe  this  Maii- 
fion  for  nie.  Let  but  his  Merits  be  apply'd  topej 
let  his  Interceflions  alTift  my  want  of  Worth',  /md 
then  I  am  fafe  j  for  thofe  Merits  cannot  be  pvei;- 
balanc'd  by  my  Sins,  nor  were,  or  can  thofe  Pray- 
ers be  ever  offered  up  to  God  in  vain. 

iPor  my  own  part,  I  confcfs  with  Shame  and 
Sorrow,  that  I  have  gone  afiray  like  a  Sheep  that  is  pr^]  T19, 
lofi^  drawn  out'my  Wandrings  and  myMiferies  to  a  136. 
great  length ,  and  a.m  caft  out  of  the  fight  of  my 
God,  into  the  blindnefs  and  darknefs  of  a  fpiritual 
Staniihment.  In  this  forlorn  Ellate  I  fadly  bew^l 
,the  wretchedncfs  of  my  Captivity,  and  fing  mourn- 
ful Songs  wl>,en  I  remember  Thee,   0  Jmifak/tu^ 

D  }  '         As 


.  44  MEDITATIONS. 

As  yet  I  am  at  an  uncomfortable  difliance,    and  at 
bed  my  Feet  fland  only  in  the  outer  Courts  of  Sion, 
The  Beauties  of  the  Sanctuary  are  behind  the  Veil, 
and  kept  hid  from  my  longing  Eyes  :    But  I  am 
full  of  Hope,  that  the  Builder  of  this  Sanctuary,  and 
the  gracious  Shepherd  of  Souls  will  carry  me  in  up- 
on his  Shoulders,   that  I  may  there  rejoice  with 
that  gladnefs  unfpeakable,   which  all  thofe  happy 
Saints  feel,   who  are  already  admitted  into  the  pre- 
fence  of  their  God  and  Saviour :    The  Saviour  who 
hath  opened  this  Royal  Palace  to  all  Believers,    by 
Ephef.  1.  ^boUJJnng  the  Enmity  in  his  Flejh^  and  reconciling  all 
15*  ^^-     things  in  Heaven  and  Earth  by  his  own  Blood, 
E  h^fT'      ^^^  ^^  ^^  our  Peace^  who  hath  made  both  one^  and 
J  4^     *    *  broken  down  the  middle  Wall  of  Part ition,^  promiling 
to  give  us  the  fame  degree  of  Happinafs  in  his  own 
due  time,   which  is  already  enjoyed  by,    and  in 
Luk.  10.  Thee.     For  thus  he  hath  declared ,   that  ^hey  who 
3S>  30.     ^^g  worthy  to  obtain  that  iVorld  and  the  Refurre^ion 
from  the  Dead^  floall  be  equal  unto  the  Angels.  O  Je- 
rufalem^  the  eternal  Habitation  of  the  eternal  God ! 
may' it  Thou  be  the  fecond  Darling  of  my  Soul,  and 
only  He  be  preferred  before  Thee  in  my  x-lffedtion, 
who  fhed  his  Blood  to  make  me  w^orthy  of  Thee. 
Be  Thou  the  Joy  and  Comfort  of  my  languifliing 
Mind,  my  great  fupport  in  Hardfhips  and  Diitrefles  ; 
May  the  remembrance  of  Thee  be  ever  fweet,   and 
the  mention  of  thy  Name  a  holy  Charm  to  drive 
away  all  Sorrow  from  my  Soul. 


CHAP.    XXL 

The  Miferies  of  the  prefent  Life. 

WELL  may  I  feek  for  fome  Relief  from  thefc 
Contemplations   of  a  future  State  ,    fince 
this  in  which  I  now  am  yields  me  no  Diverfion,  no 

Satis- 


MEDITATIONS. 45 

Satisfa6bion  at  all  j  but  is  a  painful,  and  wearifom, 
a  foul  and  tedious  Journey  :  A  wretched,  decaying 
and  uncertain  Life  >  a  Life  of  Labour,  and  which 
is  worfe,  a  Life  of  Sin,  and  Pride,  and  Folly  >  full 
of  Miferies  and  Errors ,  and  rather  Death  than 
Life,  fince  in  it  we  die  daily,  by  the  conllant  de- 
cays and  alterations  of  our  Bodies,  and  the  fundry 
kinds  of  Death,  to  which  we  ftand  every  moment 
cxpofed. 

And  can  we  in  any  propriety  of  Speech  call  this 
Living  ?  Does  that  empty  thing  deferve  the  name 
of  Life,  which  is  blotted  with  Tumours,  macerated 
with  Pains ,  burnt  up  with  Fevers ,  blafled  by  an 
infe<Sled  Air,  fattened  with  Eating,  brought  down 
with  Fafting  j  enervating  with  Mirth,  confumed 
with  Melancholy,  fhortened  with  Care,  ftupified 
with  Security  >  blown  up  with  Riches,  dejected  by 
Poverty  j  made  gay  bv  Youth ,  bowed  down  with 
Age,  broken  with  Lifirmities,  and  defbroyed  with 
Griefs  ?  Nay,  as  if  all  thefe  Evils  were  too  little, 
the  conclufion  of  them  all  is  the  Tyranny  of  Death, 
which  puts  a  fpeedy  Period  to  what  we  falfely  call 
the  Joys  of  Life,  and  aboliflies  them,  and  wears 
out  all  the  Footfteps  and  Remembrances  of  them 
fo  utterly,  that  it  is  from  thenceforth ,  as  if  they 
had  never  been  at  all. 

And  yet  it  is  prodigious  to  confider  how  this 
llrange  mixture,  for  which  we  know  not  well  how 
to  find  a  Name,  this  Living  Death,  or  Dyii^g  Life, 
though  in  every  part  embittered  by  thefe  and  in- 
finite other  Mii'eries  -,  how  it  impofcs,  I  fay,  upon 
the  generality  of  Mankind ,  and  cheats  them  with 
lying  promifes  of  imaginary  Happinels.  Nay, 
though  the  Cheat  be  fo  grofs,  that  the  blindefl  of 
its  admirers  cannot  but  difcover  it  -y  and  the  Poti? 
on  fo  naufeous ,  that  the  moil  fbupid  cannot  but 
loath  and  be  fick  of  it ,  yet  ftill  infinite  are  the 
Fools  that  drink  large  draughts  of  its  Cup,  and  are 
intoxicated  with  the  bewitching  Liquor.  But  liap- 

D  4  py 


4d  MEDITATIONS. 


py  are  thofe  few,  thofe  very  few,  who  wifely  keep 
their  dilVance,  and  will  not  trufl  themfelves  in  its 
treacherous  Embraces  >  who  defpife  its  vain  fuper- 
ficial  Joys ,  and  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  its 
flattering  Allurements ,  for  fear  at  laft  it  prove 
their  fate  to  have  the  Deceiver  and  the  Deceived 
penih  together. 


CHAP.    XXII. 

The  Happinefs  of  that  Life  prepared  for  thein 
that  love  God. 

BUT  oh!  that  Life  which  God  hath  laid  up  in 
flore  for  them  that  love  him !  that  Life  in- 
deed !  That  Happy,  Secure,  Serene  and  moil  a- 
miable,  that  Pure  and  Holy  Life  :  That  Life 
which  fears  no  Death,  which  feels  no  Sorrow, 
which  knows  no  Sin,  which  languifhes  under  no 
Pain,  is  diftracSted  with  no  Care,  is  ruffled  with 
no  Pailion,  lies  at  the  Mercy  of  no  Accidents  : 
That  incorruptible,  that  unchangeable  Life,  which 
hath  every  thing  that  can  attra6b  our  Affc6licns, 
and^ommand  our  Elleem.  There  will  be  no  Ene- 
mies to  aflault  us,  no  Envy  to  undermine  us ,  no 
Temptation  to  feduce  us,  no  Fears  to  confound  us, 
but  perfe6l  Love  and  Harmony  of  Souls  j  a  Day 
that  never  declines ,  a  Light  that  never  goes  out  : 
There  we  fhall  fee  God  Face  to  Face,  and  'when  zve 

Pfal.  17.   a^wake  up  after  his  likenefs^   our  Souls  JhaH  be  fatis- 

^^'  fie d 'with  it. 

.<  '     O  let  me  indulge  ,this  deUghtful  Thought,   and 

run  over  all  the  Beauties  an'ci  BlifTcs  with  Jtn  un- 
wearied delire !  For  the  more  I  confider,  the  more 
pafflonately  fond  I  grow  of  Thee,  and  feel  no 
Pleafure  comparable  to  the  fwect  Refle6lions  upon, 
and  impatient  Thirftings  after  Thee,    Hera  will  / 

dwells 


MEDITATIONS.  47 


dwell^  for  I  have  unfpeakable  delight  therein.  Upon 
this  will  I  fix  my  Eyes,  my  Heart,  my  Studies  j  To 
this  will  I  dire6t  all  my  delires,  and  conform  all  my 
difpofitions.  This  rubje6b  let  me  fpeak  and  hear  of 
continually,  let  it  be  my  Theme  to  write  on,  my 
Entertainment  in  Converfation.  I  will  fpend  my 
private  hours  in  reading  of  its  Blifs  and  Glories  j 
I  will  meditate  frequently  upon  what  I  have  read 
of  it  3  that  thus  at  leail  I  may  find  fomc  Refrelh- 
ment,  fome  loofe  from  the  mifcries,  and  toils,  and 
incumbrances,  of  a  troublefome  perifliing  Life: 
And  at  laft  recline  my  weary  Head ,  and  lay  me 
down  to  flcep  with  Joy,  when  I  know  that  Sleep 
jliall  be  lliaken  off  again,  and  the  Bleflednefs  of  this 
Life,  truly  fo  called,  immediately  commence  upon 
my  waking. 

This  makes  me  walk  with  fach  delight  in  the 
pleafant  Gardens  of  the  Holy  Scripture  3  Here  I 
am  diligent  to  gather  the  fweet  Flowers  of  God's 
Word  and  Promifes:  I  devour  them  by  reading,  J 
chew  the  Cud  upon  them  by  frequent  Recollection  ; 
I  lay  them  up  in  my  Memory  as  a  moil  valuable 
Treafure  y  And  by  tafting  and  feeding  upon  the{e 
delicious  defcriptions  of  another  World,  I  take 
off  great  part  of  the  bitter  and  naufeoufnels  of  this^ 


O  happy  State  !  O  truly  glorious  Kingdom  : 
without  Succcflion,  without  Confufion!  Where 
time  is  no  longer  meafured  by  the  revolutions  of 
Days  and  Nights,  Summers  and  Winters  3  but 
Eternity  is  continued  thro'  one  endiels  Day,  one 
ever-blooming  Spring.  Where  they  ,  who  have 
been  victorious  in  their  Spiritual  Warfare,  join 
in  confort  with  the  Bleiled  Angels ,  and  fing  the 
Songs  of  Sion  without  ceafing.  There  a  never-fading 
Crown  adorns  every  Head,  and  exquifite  Joy  ,over- 
flows  every  Heart.  Oh  that  my  Sins  were  blotted 
out,  my  Pardon  fealcd  !  O  when  will  it  pleafe 
God  to  give  me  leave  to  lay  down  this  load  and 

lumber 


48 


MEDITATIONS. 

lumber  of  flefh,  and  admit  me  without  fpot  or  cor- 
ruption into  the  true  refl,  the  trantporting  delights 
pral.48. 8.  of  that  bhfsful  place !  that  I  may  "walk  about  the 
beauteous  walls  of  the  City  of  God^view  all  her  Palaces^ 
and  receive  a  Crown  at  the  Hand  of  my  mercifiil 
Tude;e  J  when  lliall  I  make  one  in  that  Holy  Choir, 
and^ behold  the  Majeftick  Prcfence  of  my  Maker, 
with  the  Spirits  of  juft  Men  fiiade  perfect  ?  When 
fhall  I  fee  my  dear  Redeemer  face  to  fice,  and  ap- 
proach that  unfpeakably  bright,  and  as  yet  inaccef- 
iible  light,  which  flows  from  the  Sun  of  Righte- 
oufnefs  ?  When,  O  when,  lliall  I  be  freed  from  the 
bondage  of  the  fear  of  Death,  and  pofTefs  the  un- 
intermpted  Joy  of  an  endlcfs  incorruptible  State,  con- 
fen-ed  upon  me  by  the  Bounty  of  my  God  ? 


CHAP.    XXIII. 

The  Happinefs  of  Holy  Souls  at  their  departure 
out  of  this  World, 

HAppy  the  Soul,  which,  refined  from  thisdrofs 
of  Earth,  and  got  loofe  from  its  incumbrance 
^  of  a  Body,  foars  up  to  Heaven,  and  takes  its  dwel- 
ling there,  fecure  from  any  future  aflaults,  and  tri- 
umphant over  Death.  Then  does  it  fcaft  upon  the 
beauteous  Face  of  that  dear  Lord,  whom  it  ferv'd, 
and  lov'd,  and  long'd  to  enjoy,  in  that  Glory,  and 
glad  Immortality  to  which  it  is  at  laft  arriv'd.  A 
Glory  and  Gladnefs  which  no  length  of  time  will 
wear  out,  no  envious  Adverfiuy  can  take  away. 
^  r  This  is  the  Spoufe,  which  the  Daughter  faw  and 
^^[eM^lf^dher-.,  the  ^leens  and  the  Concubines  and  they 
praifed  her.  Wloo  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the  Wil- 
der nef^s  leaning  upon  her  helov'd  ?  B'^ho  is  fhe  that  goeth 
up  as  the  Mornings  fair  as  the  Moon^  clear  as  the  Sun^ 
and  terrible  as  an  Army  with  Banners?  With  what 
eager  Joy  docsihe  fly  to  the  Arms  of  her  Lord,  when 

with 


MEDITATIONS. 49 

with  a  joyful  aftonilhment  fhe  hears  the  Voice  of 
his  moll  affeftionate  Call  >  Rife  up  my  Lo've^  my  fair  Cant.  2. 
One^  and  come  away?  For  lol  the  Winter  is  pa(i^  //:7^io,ii,t 
Rain  is  over  and  gone.  'The  Flowers  appear  on  the  Earthly  ^  3 »  M- 
the  time  of  finging  is  come^  and  the  V me  of  the  Turtle  is 
heard  in  our  Land.    The  Figtree  putteth  forth  her  green 
Figs^  and  the  Viyies  with  the  tender  Grapes  give  a  good 
fmell.  jdrife^my  Love^  my  fair  one  ^  and  come  away  y  O 
my  Dove^  thou  art  in  the  clifts  of  the  Rocks^  in  the  fecrel 
places  of  the  Stairs^  let  me  fee  thy  Countenance ^  let  me 
hear  thy  voice^for  fweet  is  thyyoice^  and  thy  countenance 
is  comely.  Come,  my  Chofcn,  my  fair  One,  my  Dove, 
my  Spoufe,  and  I  will  receive  thee  into  my  Throne, 
for,  I  have  long'd  for  thy  Beauty.  Come  and  rejoice 
before  me  with  the  Angels ,   to  whom  I  have  pro- 
mifed  to  make  thee  a  Companion.  Come  after  long 
toils  and  many  dangers,   and  enter  thou  into  the  Joy  jvfat.  15. 
of  thy  Lord^  a  Joy  which  no  Man  taketh  from  thee.        5  3 . 

John  i6, 
__     2,1, 


CHAP.    XXIV. 

A  Trayerfor  Succour  in  Trouble  and  'Danger. 

BLefled  are  all  thy  Saints,  my  God  and  King, 
who  have  travelled  over  the  tempeftuous  Sea 
of  Mortality^  and  have  at  lafb  made  the  defir'd 
Port  of  Peace  and  Felicity  >  fearlefs  of  future  ha- 
zards, and  full  of  perpetual  Joy.  This  Sea,  Thou, 
my  Saviour,  didft  condefcend  to  try  and  be  toll 
upon.  O  call  a  gracious  Eye  upon  us  who  are 
flill  in  our  dangerous  Voyage.  Thou  art  pollelt 
of  never-lading  Glory,  but  do  not  in  the  midll  oF 
thy  own  happinefs,  forget  thofe  who  are  befetwith 
vail  variety  of  Miferies.  Thou  hall  chofcn  us  to 
thy  felf,  and  what  we  are  or  hope  to  be,  is  all  thy 
Gift  -y  thou  hall  promifed  to  make  us  immortal 
with  and  by  thy  felf,  and  to  bellow  upon  us  the 
everlalling  Felicity  of  thy  Prefence>   O  remember 

gnd 


JO  MEDITATIONS. 

and  fuccour  us  in  our  diftrefs,   and  think  on  them 
who  lie  expofed  to  the  rough  ftorms  of  Troubles 
and  Temptations. 
John  10.       Thou  art  the  beautiful  Gate  of  Heaven,  the  door 
9.  at  which  the  Sheep  mult  enter  5   but  We  alas !    lie 

groveling  here  below  ,  and  our  Soul  cleaveth  to  the 
duft.  Stretch  forth  thy  hand,  and  raife  us  up; 
Strengthen  otir  weaknefs,  that  we  may  do  valiantly 
in  this  Spiritual  War,  who  of  our  felves  are  not  able 
to  Hand  againll  the  mighty  force  that  comes  againft 
us.  Help  us  againft  our  Enemies  Power  >  help  us 
againft  our  own  Negligence  and  Cowardice ,  and 
defend  us  from  the  treachery  of  our  own  unfaith- 
ful Hearts.  We  are  exceeding  frail,  exceeding 
weak  and  defpicable.  Slaves  to  intemperance  and 
luft,  and  indifpofed  to  every  virtuous  and  gallant 
undertaking.  And  yet,  helplcls  wretches  as  we  are, 
when  lifted  under  thy  Banner,  and)  born  up  by  thy 
Crofs,  wc  are  buoy'd  up  in  Faith,  and  commit 
Pfal.  10.  our  felves  boldly  to  x.\m  great  and  wide  Sea^  wherein 
as*  2<5.  are  things  creeping  innumerable^  hpth  [mall  and  great 
Beafis^  where  is  that  Leviathan^  that  Serpent  rea- 
dy to  devour  5  wherein  are  Rocks  and  Quickfaiids, 
and  other  Dangers  without  nimiber,  on  which  the 
Carelefs  and  the  unbelieving  run  their  VefTels,  and 
fuffer  Shipwreck  daily. 

Intercede  for  me  therefore,  moft  gracious  Savi- 
our, that,  by  thy  powerful  Mediation,  and  all-fuf- 
ficient  Merits,  I  may  be  able  to  bring  this  VelTel 
and  its  Lading  fafe  to  fhore  y  and  be  conduced  to 
the  Haven  where  every  pious  Soul  would  be^  the  Ha- 
ven of  Peace  and  Salvation,  of  uninterrupted  Reft, 
and  never-ending  Joy. 


CHAP, 


MED  I  TATI  ON  S.  jt 


CHAP.    XXV. 

The  Tiotis  Soul's  ^efire  of  Heaven, 

O  Heavenly  Jerufalem !  Our  common  Mother, 
the  Holy  City  of  God,  Thou  beautiful  Spoufe 
of  Chrift,  my  Soul  hath  loved  thee  exceedingly, 
and  all  my  Faculties  are  raviihed  with  thy  Charms. 
O  what  Graces,  what  Glory,  what  noble  State  ap- 
pears in  every  part  of  Thee!  Moll  exquifite  is  thy 
Form,  and  thou  alone  art  Beauty  without  blemifh. 
Rejoice  and  Dance  for  Joy,'  O  Daughter  of  my 
Kiiig,  for  thy  Lord  himfelf,  fairer  than  all  the  Sons 
of  Men,  hath  pleafure  in  thy  Beauty,  ^^^^'  45- 

But,   liohat  is  thy  Belo'ued  more  than  another  Be-l^' 
loved<y  O  thou  fair  eft  among  Women?   My  beloved  is  ^[  jq.^ 
white  and  ruddy  ^  the  chief  eft  among  ten  thoufand.  As(^,  2.  3, 
the  Appletree  among  the  trees  of  the  Wood^fo  is  my  he- 
lo'ved  among  the  Sons.     I  fat  down  under  his  ftoadow 
with  great  delight^  and  his  Fruit  wasfweet  to  my  tafte. 

By  night  on  my  Bed  I  fought  him  whom  my  Soul 
lo^'eth^  I  fought  him^  and  found  him.  I  hold  him  faft, 
and  will  not  let  him  go ,  till  he  bring  me  into  his 
Houfe,  into  the  fecret  places  of  his  Tabernacles.  O 
glorious  Metropolis !  there  {halt  thou  give  the  Chil- 
dren thy  Breari,  and  fo  fill  me  with  the  plentiful 
communication  of  thy  Pleafures,  that  I  ihall  never 
hunger  more,  neither  thirft  any  more. 

O  how  happy  will  my  Soul  perceive  it  felf,  when 
it  lliall  be  admitted  to  fee  thy  Glory,  thy  Beauty  5 
to  view  the  Gates,  the  Walls,  the  Streets,  the  {late- 
ly Buildings,  the  Splendor  of  thy  Inhabitants,  and 
the  triumphant  Pomp  of  thy  King  enthroned  in 
the  midft  of  thee !  For  thy  Walls  are  of  precious 
Stones,  and  thy  Gates  of  Pearl,  and  thy  Streets  of 
pure  Gold,  continually  refounding  with  loud  Hale-^ 
iujahs.    Thy  Houfes  are  founded  upon  hewn  fquare 

Stone, 


-»— !— »^"^»" 


jx  MEDITATIONS. 


Stone,  carried  up  with  Saphire,  cover'd  in  with 
Gold,  and  no  unclean  Perfon  can  enter  into  thee, 
no  manner  of  Pollution  abide  within  thy  borders. 
Sweet  and  Charming  are  thy  delights,  O  holy 
Mother  of  us  all.  Subjed  to  none  of  thofe  vicilli- 
tudes  and  interruptions  which  abate  our  Plcafures 
here  below.  No  fuccellions  of  Night  and  Day,  no 
Intervals  of  Darknefs,  no  difference  of  Seafons  in 
their  feveral  Courfes.  Nor  is  the  Light  derived 
from  artificial  Helps,  or  natural  Luminaries,  the 
fame  with  ours  j  no  Lamps  or  Candles,  no  fhining 
Rev.  21.  of  the  Moon  or  Stars,  but  God  of  God,  and  Light 
13.^  of  Light,  even  the  Son  of  Righteoufnefs  fhines  in 
thee,  and  the  white  Immaculate  Lamb,  He  it  is  that 
enlightens  thee  with  the  full  Luftre  of  his  Majeily 
and  Beauty.  Thy  Light  and  Glory,  and  all  thy 
Happinefs,  is  the  inceflant  Contemplation  of  this 
divine  King;  for  this  King  of  Kings  is  in  the  mid  ft 
of  thee,  and  all  his  Hoft  arc  miniftring  round  about 
him  continually. 

There  are  the  melodious  Choirs  of  Angels,  there 
the  fweet  Fellow fhip  and  Company  of  the  Hea- 
venly Inhabitants  ^  there  the  joyful  Pomp  of  all 
thofe  triumphant  Souls  who  from  their  fore  Trials 
and  Travels  thro'  this  Valley  of  Tears,  at  laft  re- 
turn vi6i:orious  to  their  native  Country.  There  the 
Goodly  Fellowihip  of  Prophets,  whofe  Eyes  God 
opened  to  take  a  profped  of  far  diftant  Myfteries. 
There  the  twelve  Leaders  of  the  Chriftian  Armies, 
the  bleffed  Apoftles  3  There  the  noble  Army  of 
the  Martyrs ;  There  the  convention  of  ConfefTors  5 
There  the  Holy  Men  and  Women,  who  in  the 
days  of  their  Flefh  were  mortified  to  the  pleafures 
of  Sin  and  the  Worlds  There  the  Virgins  and 
Youths,  whofe  blooming  Virtues  put  out  early 
Fruits,  and  ripcn'd  into  Piety  far  exceeding  the 
proportion  of  their  Years.  There  the  Sheep  and 
Lambs,  who  haye  efcap'd  the  ravening  Wolf,  and 
all  the  Snares  laid  for  their-  deftruaion.    Thefe  all 

rejoice 


M  E  D  I  T  A  T  IONS. ^ 

rejoice  in  their  proper  Manfions  y  and,  though 
each  differ  from  other  in  degrees  of  Glory,  yet  all 
agree  in  Blifs  and  Joy,  diffiis'd  to  all  in  common; 
and  the  happinefs  of  every  one  is  eflecm'd  each 
Man's  own. 

For  there  Charity  reigns  in  its  utmoft  Perfedti- 
on,  becaufe  God  there  is  all  in  all>  whom  they 
continually  behold,  and  beholding  continually  ad- 
mire, and  praife  and  love,  and  love  and  praife 
without  intei  mifHon,  without  end,  without  weari- 
nefs,  or  diftra^tion  of  Thought.  This  is  their  con- 
flant,  their  delightful  Employ nients.  And,  O  how 
happy  ihall  I  be,  how  exquifitely,  how  incefliint^ 
ly  happy,  if,  when  this  Body  criunblcs  into  duft, 
I  {hall  be  entatain'd  with  that  Coeleftial  Harmony, 
and  hear  the  Hymns  of  Praife  to  their  Eternal  ' 
King,  which  Troops  of  Angels,  and  Saints  innu- 
merable are  ever  iinging  in  full  Confort  !  How 
happy  my  felf  to  bear  a  part  with  them,  and  pay 
the  fame  Tribute  to  my  God  and  Saviour,  the  Au- 
thor and  the  Captain  of  my  Salvation !  To  behold 
His  Face  in  Glory,  and  be  made  Partaker  of  thofe 
gracious  Promifes,  of  which  he  hath  given  me  the 
comfortable  Hope,  when  faying  to  his  Father, 
I  will ^  that  they  whom  thou  haft  given  me  be  w/V/^  Jolm  i7« 
me  where  I  am^  that  they?nay  behold  the  Glory  which  ^'»  ^4* 
■/  had  with  T'hee  before  the  World  was.  And  again, 
fupporting  his  Difciples  againfl  the  Tribulations  they 
fliould  encounter  here  below,  If  any  Man  love  me^  xii.  i6. 
let  him  follow  me^  and  where  I  ayn^  there  floall  alfo 
my  Servant  be.  And  in  another  place.  He  thatlov-  xiv.  if, 
eth  me  ftoall  be  loved  of  7ny  Father^  and  I  will  lovs 
him^  and  will  manifeft  my  felf  unto  him. 


CHAP. 


54  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.    XX  VL 

An  Aci  QJTraife. 

Pfal.  103.  Xl^^y^  the  Lor d^  O  my  Sotil^  and  all  that  is  within 
I ,  ii •  J3  ^^^  ^M^  ^^^^  ^■>oly  Name.  Blefs  the  Lord^  O  my  Soid^ 
and  forget  not  all  his  benefits,  O  Praife  the  Lord^  all  ye 
'works  of  his^  in  all  places  of  his  Dominions  5  Praife  the 
Lord^  O  my  Soul.  Let  us  magnify  that  Great  God, 
whom  Angels  praife,  whom  Dominions  adore, 
whom  Powers  fall  down  and  tremble  before  -, 
whole  Excellent  Glory  Cherubim  and  Seraphim 
proclaim  with  loud  incefllmt  Voices :  Let  Us  then 
bear  a  part  too  in  this  heavenly  Song,  and  together 
with  Angels  and  Archangels^  and  all  the  Company  of 
Hea'ven^  laud  and  magnify  that  glorious  Name  5  Let 
us  tune  our  Voices  up  with  theirs ,  and  tho'  we 
cannot  reach  their  pitch,  yet  will  we  exert  the  ut- 
moil  of  our  fkill  and  power,  in  this  Tribute  to  the 
fame  common  Lord  j  and  fay  with  them ,  as  poor 
Mortals  are  able,  Holy^  Holy^  Holy^  Lord  God  ofHofts  j 
Heaven  and  Earth  are  full  of  thy  Glory  >  Glory  he  to 
"ithee^  O  Lord  mofi  high. 

For  Thefe  are  the  happy  Spirits,  who  offer  a 
Sacrifice  of  pure  Pniife  before  the  Throne  of  God 
continually,  who  are  ever  wrapt  in  the  contempla- 
tions of  his  Perfections  j  and  fee  them,  not  Kke  Us, 
I  Cor. 1 3.^^^^'  a  glafs  darkly^  but  near  at  hand,  and  face  to 
face.  What  Tongue  can  exprefs,  what  Thought 
conceive,  the  admirable  Beauty.,  the  exa6t  Order, 
the  numberlefs  Multitude  of  this  Heavenly  Holl:  ? 
The  inexhauilible  fource  of  Joy  fpringing  from  the 
beatifick  Vifion  y  the  fervent  Love  which  miniflers 
Delight  without  Torment  ;  The  Ever-growing 
Defire,  which  rifes  with  their  Satisfadions,  and 
the  grateful  Satisfa6ticns  which  cro\vn  that  defire  5 
A  defire  always  eager,  and  never  uneafie,  always 
full,   and   never   cloy'd  :    The  Bleflcdnefs  derived 

down 


MEDITATIONS.  55 

down  to  them,  by  their  infeparable  Union  to  the 
Fountain  of  all  Blifs^  the  Light  communicated 
to  them  from  the  Original  Light  >  the  happy  j  joh.2.3. 
change  into  an  immutable  Nature,  by  feeing  the 
immutable  God  as  he  is,  and  being  transformed 
into  the  Kkenefs  of  him  they  fee  ? 

But  how,  alas !  fhould  we  hope  to  comprehend 
the  Divinity  and  Bhfs  of  Angels  fo  ifar  above  us, 
when  we  feel  our  felves  unable  to  find  out  the  Na- 
ture and  Perfe6tions  of  this  veiy  Soul  within  us  ? 
What  fort  of  Being  mufl  this  be,  which  infpires  a 
lump  of  dead  Flelh  with  Life  and  A6tivdty,  and 
yet,  when  moll  defirous  fo  to  do,  cannot  confine  its 
Thoughts  to  Holy  Exercifes  ?  What  a  mixture  of 
Power  and  Lnpotence  is  here  ?  How  great,  and  yet 
how  poor  and  little  is  this  Principle,  which  dives 
into  the  Secrets  of  the  Mofl  High,  fearches  the 
deep  Things  of  God,  and  expands  it  felf  to  celeilial  • 
Objecbs  at  the  fame  time  that  it  is  forced  to  em- 
ploy its  Talent  in  the  invention  of  ufeful  Arts,  and 
to  ferve  the  neceffities  of  a  mortal  Life  ?  What  fort 
of  Creature  is  this,  that  knows  fo  much  of  other 
Things,   and  fo  little  of  it  fdf  ?   So  ingenious  in  ^ 

Matters  abroad,  fo  perfedly  in  the  dark  to  what  is 
done  at  home  ?  Specious,  but  very  difputable  No- 
tions have  indeed  been  advanced  concerning  the 
Origin  of  our  Soul,  but  all  we  know  of  it  amounts 
at  laft  to  this  3  That  it  is  an  intelleftual  Spirit, 
created  by  the  Almighty  Power  of  its  Divine  Ma- 
ker, endued  with  fuch  an  Immortality  as  he  was 
pleafed  to  qualifie  it  for  j  enlivening  and  fuftain- 
ing  a  Body  fubjeft  to  Change,  Corruption,  and 
Death,  and  liable  to  all  the  unequal  AfFeftions  of 
Fear  and  Joy,  and  every  turbulent  Paffion,  that  in 
their  turns  exalt  and  depfefs,  enlai'ge  or  contract  its 
Powers. 

And  what  an  amazing  thing  is  this  now !  The 
more  we  attend  to  it,  the  more  we  fliall  find  our 
felves  loft  in  wonder.     When  we  read,  or  fpeak, 

E  or 


5<5 


MEDITATIONS. 


-•i^ 


or  write  of  God,    the  Great  Creator  of  the  Uni- 
verfe,  we  can  deliver  our  felves  clearly  and  diftincl- 
ly,  though  at  the  fame  time  his  Perfe6tions  be  too 
V aft  for  our  Words  to  exprefs,  or  our  Minds  to  com- 
prehend j  the  Subie£b,  not  of  an  adequate  Concep- 
tion, but  of  an  awful  Aftonilliment.     But  when  we 
defcend  lower,    and  treat  of  Angels   and    created 
Spirits,  of  Souls  united  to  Bodies,  and  Beings  of 
the  lame  level  with,   or  a  Condition  inferiour  to, 
Our  own  ^    we  are  not  able  to  fupport  our  Ideas 
with  proofs  fo  unconteftable  j  and  find  it  impracti- 
cable to  fatisfy  our  felves  or  others  in  the  Enqui- 
ries concerning  them.     Why  then  fhould  we,  to  fo 
very  little  purpofe,   hover  uncertainly  about  thefc 
lower  Regions,   and  fpend  our  Time  and  Pains  in 
groping  in  the  dark  ?    No,   let  our  Minds  rather 
enlarge  their  Thoughts,   and  take  a  nobler  range  > 

•  -Let  them  leave  all  created  Objefe  behind,  and 
run,  and  mount,  and  fly  aloft :  And,  taking  Faith 
to  the  afiiftance  of  Reafon,  fix  their  Eyes  with  the 
utmoft  Intenfenefs  our  Nature  will  bear,  upon 
the  Creator,    the   univerfal  Caufe.      Yes^   I  will 

^en.  iS.inake  a  Ladder,  like  that  o^  Jacob's^  reaching  from 
12.  Earth  to  Heaven,   and  as  by  rounds,  go  up  from  . 

my  Body  to  my  Soul-  from  my  own  Soul  to  that 
'Eternal  Spiiit  that  made  it>  who  fuftains,  preferves, 
it  always  with  me,  about  me,  above  me  ^  thus  (kip- 
ping over  all  the  intermediate  Stages  of  Beings, 
and  re-uniting  my  own  Soul  to  Him,  from  whom  it 
came,  and  in  whofe  Image  it  was  created. 

Whatever  Bodily  Eyes  can  difcern,  whatevcr^ 
leaves  Impreflions  upon  my  imaginative  Faculty, 
fhall  be  refolutely  fet  out  of  the  way,  as  a  hin- 
drance to  that  more  abftra61:ed  Contemplation, 
which  my  Mind  is  defirous  to  indulge.  A  pui*ie 
and  fimple  a6t  of  the  Underftanding,  is  that  v/hich 

•  -muft  carry  me  up,  and  boldly  foar  at  once  to  the 
Creator  of  Angels,  and  Souls,  and  all  things. 
And  happy  is  that  Soul,  which,  rcfufing  to  be  de- 

-I  tained 


MEDITATIONS.  ^7 

tain^d  by  low  and  viler  Obje6ts5  dircfts  its  ilight 
to  the  nobleft  and  moft  exalted,  and,  like  the 
Eagle,  builds  its  Neft  in  the  top  of  the  Rocks,  and 
keeps  its  Eye  fteddy  upon  the  Sun  of  Righteoui^ 
nefs :  For  no  Beauty  is  fo  charming,  no  Pleafure 
ib  tranfporting,  as  that  with  which  our  Eyes  and 
Mind  are  feafted,  when  our  greedy  Sight  and  ea- 
ger AfFe61:ions  are  determin'd  to  our  God  and  Sa- 
viour, as  to  their  only  proper  Centre^  when,  by 
a  wondrous  myftical,  but  true  and  fpiritual  A6t 
of  Vifion,  we  fee  Him  who  is  invifible-,  behold 
a  Light  far  different  from  this,  which  cheers  our 
Senfes,  and  talfe  a  Pleafure  infinitely  fweeter  than 
any  this  World  and  its  Joys  can  afford :  For  this  is 
a  fhort  and  unfincere  Pleafure  j  this  is  a  dim  and 
feeble  Light,  confined  to  a  narrow  fpace,  always  in 
motion  from  us,  and  in  few  hours  put  out  by  con- 
ffcant  returns  of  Darknefs :  Thefe  are  Enjoyments 
which  the  Great  Creator  hath  diftriKuted  to  Brutes, 
nay,  to  the  vileft  of  Infe61:s,  in  common  with  Man- 
kind >  and  therefore  let  us  thirfl  and  afpire  after 
fuch  as  are  truly  divine  >  for  what  even  Swine  and 
Worms  {hare  with  us,  cannot  deferve  the  Name  of 
Light  and  Pleafure,  but,  in  comparifon  of  thofe 
more  refined,  are  to  be  efteem'd  no  better  than  Pain 
and  Night. 


CHAP.    XXVIL 

How  God  may  he  feeu:,  and  pojjefsd  of  Man, 

THis  Supreme  and  Immutable  Being,  this  Glo- 
rious Sun  that  never  fets,  this  true,  uncloud- 
ed, and  eternal  Light,  the  Light  of  Angels  and 
Men,  cannot  indeed  be  feen  with  mortal  Eyes, 
nor  muil  we  hope  in  this  Life  to  approach  it,  that 
Blefling  is  referv'd  for  glorified  Saints  in  Heaven  > 
and  therein  chiefly  docs  the  Excellence  of    their 

E  2.  Re- 


58 


MEDITATIONS. 


Reward  and  Happinefs  confills.  But  yet  are  we 
not  even  now  ihut  out  from  all  Perception  of  it 
neither  :  For  to  believe  in,  to  meditate  upon, 
to  underftand,  and  ardently  to  third  after  God, 
to  make  him  the  fole  Obje6l  of  our  Thoughts  and 
Delires  >  this  is  in  fome  fenfe  to  fee,  and  to  pof- 
fefs  him.  And  fince  our  Capacity  extends  thus 
far  at  prefent,  let  us  exert  thofe  little  powers  we 
have  y  Let  our  Voices  be  lifted  up  on  high,  and 
our  Souls  make  God  their  Study  j  and  let  us,  to 
the  bell:  of  our  ability,  entertain  him  with  his  ow^n 
Praifes.  For  if  is  very  meet^  right ^  and  our  hounden 
duty^  that  the  Creature  fhould  pubUfh  the  goodnefs 
of  the  Creator  >  fince  He  created  us  for  the  lUullra- 

pral.47.7.  tion  of  his  Happinefs,  not  to  ftand  in  need  of  any 
glory  we  can  give  him,  nor  can  we  add  to  what 
He  hath  already. 

For  he  is  Power  incomprchenfible,  poflelling  all 

145.  3.  Things,  and  felf-fufficient.  Great  is  our  Lord^  and 
great  is  his  Power ^  yea^  and  his  Wifdom  is  infinite. 
Great  is  our  Lord  and  mar'vellous^  and  worthy  to  be 
p'aifed.  Let  this  then  be  the  Object  of  our  Love  > 
this  the  Subje6t  of  our  Song  *,  this  the  Ground  of 
our  Labour  and  Studies.  And  let  our  Mind,  and 
Tongue,  and  Hands  be  continually  exercifed  in  De- 
liring,  Speaking,  Singing,  Writing  of  Him.  Let 
the  Delights  of  this  Heavenly  Rhetoric  be  our  dai- 
ly Food  and  Feaft,  that,  filled  with  this  Divine 
Nourifhment,  we  may  cry  out  with  the  moft  ear- 
ncft  Contention  of  Heart  and  Voice,  with  Joy  and 
Gladnefs,  and  moft  fervent  Zeal,  and  proclaim  the 
Excellencies  of  our  God  after  the  following  manner» 


CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS.  59 


CHAP.    XXVIII. 


MOST  Great,  ^mofl  Gracious,  moft  Mighty, 
moftjull:,  moft  MercifuLy  Omniprefent  and 
Incomprehenfible  Lord  God  !  Thou  art  Invifible 
and  yet  feeft  all  things.  Unchangeable  and  changed 
all  things,  Immortal ,  Uncircumfcribed ,  without 
bound,  without  end,  unfpeakable,  unfearchable, 
unmoved,  and  giving  Motion  to  all  things  j  Fear- 
ful and  Glorious  j  to  be  honoured,  and  reverenced, 
and  adored  with  the  moffc  profound  Humihty  j 
never  new,  never  old  5  and  yet  making  all  things 
new,  and  confuming  their  gayell  Pride  with  Age, 
tho'  they  regard  it  not. 

Always  in  Aftion,  and  yet  always  at  Rcfl  -,  fuf- 
taining  all  things ,  and  yet  feeling  no  Burthen  j 
fining  all  things,  and  yet  included  in  nothing  j 
creating,  protecting,  nourifhing,  maintaining,  im- 
proving all  things  :  Thou  feekefh,  and  yet  thou 
lackeil  not  •,  thou  lovell  without  pafHon,  art  jea- 
lous without  diflurbance  j  thou  repentefl  without 
remorfe  >  art  angry  without  perturbation  >  chang- 
ed thy  Works,  but  not  thy  Refolution  •,  thou  re-^ 
ceivefl  what  thou  hadil  never  loft  j  art  never  poor, 
and  yet  rejoiceft  in  the  gaining  of  Sinners  j  art 
not  covetous,  and  yet  expe6teft  thy  own  with  ufury-y  Mat.  15. 
and  art  pleafed  to  account  thy  fclf  a  Debtor  to  ^7« 
them  who  do  good  for  thy  fake. 

But  who,  alas,  can  do!  who  is  pofTeiTed  of  any 
Good,  which  is  not  thine  already.^  Thou  payeil 
Debts,  and  yet  oweft  nothing:  Thou  forgiveft 
Debts,  and  art  no  lofer  by  thy  Mercy :  Thou  givell 
Life  and  Being  to  all  j  art  every  where,  and  all  iii 
all :  Thou  may'il  be  felt  and  perceived ,  but  net 
fecn ',  art  diftant  from  no  place ,  and  yet  far  from 
the  Ungodly !  For  where  thou  art  not  bythyGraos 

E  I  ^'  and 


6o  MEDITATIONS. 


and  favour,  thou  ftill  art  prefcnt  by  thy  Obiervati- 
on  and  Vengeance.  Thou  communicateil  thy  felf 
to  all,  but  not  to  all  equally.  To  Ibme  things 
thou  impartell  Being,  but  not  Life,  or  Scnfe ,  or 
Underftanding.  To  fome ,  Being  and  Life ,  but 
not  Senfe  and  Underilanding. -  To  fome  again. 
Being  and  Life,  and  Senfe ,  ■>:  but  not  Underltand- 
ing.  To  fome,  laftly,  thy  Bounty  extends  fo  far, 
as  to  beftow  all  thefe.  And  tho'  thou  always  be 
the  fame,  perfedly  confident  with  thy  felf,  yet 
nothing  is  more  different  than  that  vaft  variety 
of  Gifts  and  Difpenlations ,  wherein  thy  different 
Influences  are  fhed  abroad  upon  different  forts  of 
Creatures. 

We  are  in  continual  purdiit  of  thee,  and  though 
thou  move  not  away  from  us,  yet  can  we  not  ap- 
prehend thee.  Thou  pofleffeft  all  things,  compaf- 
fefl:  all,  furmounteil  all,  upholdell  all  j  yet  dofl 
not  fo  uphold  all,  as  to  have  any  thing  above  thee  ; 
nor  fo  fill  all,  as  to  have  any  thing  without  theej 
but  at  once  filleil:  and  containell,  furtaineil  and  fur- 
mount  eff  all. 

Thou  teacheff  the  Hearts  of  the  Faithful  with- 
out the  formality  of  Words,  and  fpeakefl  to  them 
Wifi'.S.L.^Tithout  the  noife  of  articulate  Sounds.  Thy  Wif- 
iom  reacheth  from  one  end  to  the  other  mightily^  and 
fiveetly  doth  poe  order  all  things.  Thou  art  neither 
enlarg'd  by  any  addition  of  Space,  nor  changed  by 
any  revolution  of  Time.  Thou  inhabitell  the 
Light,  which  no  Man  can  approach  j  indivifible, 
bccaufe  ff ri6i:ly  and  (imply  One,  and ,  having  no 
Parts,    filled   all  things  with   the  Whole  of  thy 

Finite  Minds  cannot  diftin6tly  conceive,  nor 
artful  Expreffions  declare,  nor  whole  Volumes  and 
Libraries  explain  the  depttis  and  intricacies  of  this 
My  fiery.  For  what  can  defcribe  that  Greatnefs 
which  is  above  all  Qiiantity,  and  that  tranfccn- 
iient  Goodnels  which  is  above  all  Quality?     This 

is 


MEDITATIONS.  6i 

is  perfect  Goodnefs  indeed  >  and  therefore  none  is 
truly  good  but  thou  alone ,  with  whom  to  intend 
is  to  Hnifn  ,  and  to  will  is  to  be  able  to  pci*- 
form. 

.  Thou  madefl  all  things  out  of  nothing,  merely 
becaufe  'twas  thy  good  pleafure  fo  to  do.  Thou 
poll^fleil  all  things,  not  becaufe  thou  needefl:  any  : 
Thou  govern'!!;  all  without  cai*e  or  toil ,  and  nO' 
thing  in  Heaven  above,  or  in  Earth,  no,  not  in 
Hell  beneath ,  hath  power  to  countermand,  or  in 
any  degree  to  dillm^b  thy  regular  management ,  or 
break  the  beauteous  Order  of  thy  univerfe. 

Thou  art  not  the  Author  of  any  Evil  :  This  is 
what  even  that  Power,  which  can  do  all  things, 
cannot  do  ^  for  the  being  able  to  do  this  would 
argue  a  defect,  and  not  a  perfe6i:ion  of  Power. 
Is!  or  canlt  thou  repent  of  any  thing  thou  haft  done, 
becaufe  thy  Wifdom  always  does  the  beft  :  Nor 
Ganft  thou  be  diforder'd  with  any  tumultuous  Paf^ 
lions,  for  thefe  are  the  Tempefts  and  Commotions 
of  weak  Minds :  Nor  could  the  danger  or  ruine  of 
the  whole  World  be  any  detriment  to  thee,  for 
that  were  to  have  a  Happinefs  depending  on  thy 
own  Creatures :  .Nor  canii  thou  approve  or  com- 
mend any  wicked  action,  for  that  were  a  blemifh 
to  thy  Hohnefs,  and  would  make  thee  ceafe  to  be 
God. 

Thou  never  ly'ft  ,  becaufe  thou  art  Eternal 
Truth  :  By  thy  Bounty  alone  we  were  created  j 
by  thy  Juftice  we  are  punifh'd  for  our  Offences  j 
and  by  thy  Clemency  we  are  deliver'd  from  Ven- 
geance and  Deftruction.  No  material  Being,  whe- 
ther Earthly  or  Heavenly  Body ,  no  a6i:ive  Princi- 
ple (not  even  that  of  Fire)  which  can  affect  our 
Senfes,  ought  to  be  worfhip'd  for  thee  j  for  thou 
alone  haft  Self-exiftence ,  and  never  changeft  from 
what  thou  art:  Hence  is  thy  Name  Jehovah ^  de-Exod.  3. 
noting  that  thou  art  always  the  fame ^  and  thy.  Tears  M-^ 
Jtiall  not  fa'iL    Thefc,   and  many  other  neceflary  J"^*^'-  ^°^* 

E  4  and^^* 


dz  MEDITATIONS. 


and  fciving  Tmths  thy  Church  hath  taught  me ,  of 
which  I  acknowledge  it  thy  fpecial  Favour  to  have 
been  made  a  Member.  For  here  I  learnt,  that 
thou  art  the  One,  the  True  God ,  without  Body, 
Parts,  or  PaiTions :  And  that  no  part  of  thy  Sub- 
ftance  is  capable  of  Change  or  Corruption,  com- 
poimded  or  made.  This  makes  it  evident,  that 
no  bodily  Eye  can  difcern  thee,  and  that  no  Mor- 
tal can  fee  thee  in  thy  proper  EfTence :  Hence  it  is 
alfo  plain,  that  from  the  fame  caufe,  which  enables 
Angels  to  behold  thee  now,  we  alfo  after  this  Life 
ihall  be  enabled  to  behold  thee.  But  even  thofe 
glorious  and  intelledual  Spirits  cannot  fee  thee  in 
all  points  as  thou  art  j  for  thy  myfterious  Unity  of 
Eflence  in  Trinity  of  Perfons ,  as  it  hath  nothing 
like  it  felf ,  fo  it  is  fully  comprehended  by  nothing 
but  itfelf 


CHAR    XXIX. 

Of  the  Plurality  of  Perfons  in  the  Unity  of  the 
"Divine  Ejfence, 

THOU,  my  God,  art  but  One  with  regard 
to  thy  Nature,  but  the  Perfons  to  whom  this 
Nature  is  communicated  are  feveral  >  and  thus  in 
different  refpe&  thou  art  capable  and  incapable 
of  becoming  the  Object  of  Number,  and  Meafurc, 
and  Weight.  We  do  not  acknowledge  any  begin- 
ning of  that  Goodnefs,  whereof  thy  ElTence  con- 
fids,  but  believe  all  things  wliatfoever  to  be  from, 
and  by,  and  in  this  5  and  that  there  is  no  other 
thing  Good,  except  fo  far  as  it  participates  of, 
and  receives  its  Goodnefs  from  thee.  Thy  Di- 
vine Eflence  is,  and  ever  was  without  Matter,  but 
not  without  Form :  The  perfe6i:,  moft  beautiful, 
and  true   original  Form  3    which   like  thy  Seal% 

thou 


MEDITATIONS.  63 

thou  fealeft  upon  every  thing,  and  flill,  without 
addition  or  diminution  to  thy  felf,  diverfify'ft  thy 
own  Works  after  a  wonderful  manner,  and  makelt 
them  to  differ  from  thee,  and  from  each  other, 
according  to  the  different  Chara6ters  imprefs'd  up- 
on them  by  their  Maker's  Hand.  For  whatfoever 
is  made,  is  made  by  thee  alone. 

O  Lord  Omnipotent,  thou  great  Three-One, 
whofe  Almighty  Power  pofTefTes,  governs,  and  fills 
all  things  3  yet  fo  as  that  the  Greatefl  hath  not 
more,  nor  the  Leaft  lefs,  but  fo  as  to  be  All  in  All, 
and  all  to  be  in  thee 3  as  it  is  written.  Whither  jh all? h\.  139. 
I  go  from  thy  Spirit  ^  and  'whither  fioall  I  flee  from  1^^  ^9^^'^' 
thy  Prefence  ?  If  I  climb  up  to  Heaven^  thou  art  there  j 
if  I  go  down  to  Hell^  thou  art  there  alfo  -,  If  I  take 
the  wings  of  the  Mornings  and  remain  in  the  uttermoji 
parts  of  the  Sea^  even  there  alfo  floall  thy  Hand  lead 
me^  and  thy  right  Hand  fJo all  hold  me.  Thus  art  thou 
prefent  Vx^ith  every  thing,  and  every  thing  with 
thee  J  not  by  any  local  extenfion,  but  by  thy  Vir- 
tue and  Power,  and  communication  of  thy  felf 

Now  fince  thy  Nature  is  fimply  and  infeparably 
One,  we  mufl  not  fo  conceive  of  the  Trinity,  as 
if  the  Perfons  in  it  could  be  really  feparated  from 
one  another.  This  is  indeed  diftinguiihed  into 
Three,  and  each  Perfon  hath  a  different  Name  and 
Title  5  but  ftill  no  Name  belongs  to  any  One  of 
them,  which  does  not  at  the  fame  time  refer  to 
the  reft,  according  to  the  different  Properties  and 
mutual  relations  of  each  to  other.  The  Father  in- 
cludes the  notion  of  a  Son  j  The  Son  that  of  a  Fa- 
ther 5  The  Holy  Spirit  Father  and  Son  both.  And 
all  thofe  Titles  us'd  to  exprefs  the  Power,  and  Ef^ 
{^WQQ^  and  Perfeftions  $  and  whatever  is  included 
in  the  Name  of  God,  belongs  to  every  Perfon  e- 
qually.  There  is  not  therefore  any  thing  which 
may  be  truly  affirm'd  of  the  Father  as  God ,  but 
may  with  equal  Truth  be  afHrm'd  of  the  Son,  or 
Holy  Gholl,  as  God.    We  fay  that  the  Fatha*  is 

God 


64  MEDITATIONS. 


God  by  Nature,  fo  we  fay  likewife  that  the  Son 
and  the  Holy  Gholl  are  5  and  yet  they  are  not 
Three  Gods  by  Nature,  but  Father,  Son,  and  Ho- 
ly Gholt,  One  and  the  felf-fame  God. 

So  that  our  Underilanding  embraces  but  One 
undivided  Eflence,.  tho*,  for  our  more  diftinft  con- 
ception of  this  EfTence,  we  diilinguifh  the  feveral 
Sublicences  in  it,  by  calling  them  different  Per- 
fons.  But  IHII,  that  this  plurality  of  Perfons  does 
not  infer  a  plurality  of  Beings,  is  manifeft  from 
hence,  that  the  Name  of  each  Perfon  has  a  necef- 
fary  refpe6t  to  the  other  two.  If  I  mention  the 
Father,  I  include  the  Son  >  if  the  Son,  I  include 
the  Father  j  if  the  Spirit ,  I  muft  unavoidably  be 
imderllood  to  refer  to  fome  whofe  Spirit  this  is, 
and  fo  imply  Father  and  Son  both.  This  is  the 
true  Faith  5  this  is  the  refult  of  found  Doclrine , 
fuch  as  Almighty  God  hath  taught  in  his  Church , 
and  by  her  Miniflry  educated  me  in  the  belief  and 
full  perfuafion  of. 


CHAP.    XXX. 

'  A  Trayer  to  the  Ever-bleffed  Trinity, 

IN  this  Faith,  which  I  do  not  only  profefs  with 
all  poifible  Sincerity,  but  thankfully  acknow- 
ledge to  be  thy  gracious  Gift ,  for  the  Benefit  and 
Salvation  of  my  Soul ,  I  call  upon  my  God.  And 
reafon  good  I  have  to  be  thankful  for  this  Gift, 
iince  the  beheving  Soul  lives  by  Faith,  and  by 
Hope  embraces  that  at  prefent  which  it  fhall  one 
day  fee  in  thee.  To  thee  therefore  I  come,  with 
a  Mind  thus  enlighten'd,  full  of  chafte  and  holy 
Defires,  happily  brought  out  of  the  dark  night 
of  Ignorance,  to  the  knowledge  of  thy  Divine 
Truth  >  and  deliver'd  from  the  feducing  Charms 
of  a  treacherous  and  calamitous  World,    to  tafle 

the 


MEDITATIONS. 


1 


the  Sweets  of  that  Love,  which  places  all  its  Hopes 
and  Joys  in  thee  j  even  thee,  O  bleffed  and  glori- 
ous Trinity  in  Unity,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft, 
my  God,  my  Lord,  my  Comforter!  Love,  Mercy, 
and  Communion  of  Grace ! 

O  thou  that  begetteft  !  O  thou  that  art  be- 
gotten !  O  thou  that  begetteft  us  again  to  a  new 
Life  !  Source  of  Light,  Light  of  Light,  Diftri- 
buter  of  Light  j  the  Spring,  the  Stream,  the  Wa- 
tering, the  One  of  v/hom,  the  One  by  whom,  the 
One  in  whom  are  all  things !  Thou  Life  in  thy  feli^ 
Life  in  thy  fclf  derived  trom  Life  in  himfelf,  the 
Lord  and  Giver  of  Life  5  One  originally ,  One  of 
One,  One  from  the  other  Two >  Truth  the  Fa- 
ther, Truth  the  Son,  Truth  the  HolyGhoft!  For 
in  all  Three  is  but  One  Eflence,  One  Power,  One 
Goodnefs,  One  Bleiredncfs,  from,  and  by,  and  in 
whom  whatever  elfe  is  BlefTed,  receives  its  Blef- 
fednefs. 


C  H  A  P.    XXXI. 

God  the  True  Life. 

OGod,  the  true  Life,  of,  and  by,  and  in  whom 
all  things  hve,  the  common  Source  of  all 
Good  !  our  Faith  in  thee  excites,  our  Hope  exalts, 
our  Love  unites  us.  Thou  commandeft  us  to  feek 
thee,  and  art  ready  to  be  found 5  thou  biddeft  usMat. 7.  7, 
knock,  and  openeft  when  we  do  fo.  To  turn 
from  thee,  is  to  fall  into  mine  and  Death.  To 
turn  to  thee,  is  to  rife  to  Life  and  Glory.  To  a- 
bide  in  thee,  is  to  ftand  faft  and  fecure  from  Dan- 
ger. No  Man  lofes  thee,  who  does  not  fufFer  him- 
lelf  to  be  deceiv'd>  no  Man  feeks  thee,  who  does 
not  fubmit  to  Inftruclion  and  Reproof  ^  no  Man 
finds  thee,    who  does  not  feek  after  thee  with  a 

clean 


66  MEDITATIONS. 


clean  Heart  and  purify'd  Affeftions.  To  know 
thee  is  Life,  to  ferve  thee  is  Freedom,  to  enjoy  thee 
is  a  Kingdom,  to  praife  thee  is  the  Joy  and  Happi- 
ne{s  of  the  Soul.  I  praife,  and  blefs,  and  adore 
thee,  with  Heart,  and  Voice,  and  every  Faculty  j 
J  ivorjhip  thee^  I  glorify  thee^  I  give  'Thanks  to  thee 
for  thy  great  Glory ^  for  thy  great  Goodneis,  for  thy 
innumerable  and  ineftimable  Mercies,  Holy,  Holy, 
Holy,  Lord  God  Almighty. 

I  humbly  befeech  thee,  O  blefled  Trinity,  to 
come  to  me,  to  abide  with  me,  to  reign  in  me, 
to  make  this  Heart  of  mine  a  holy  Temple ,  a  fit 
Habitation  for  thy  Majefty.  I  entreat  the  Father 
by  the  Son,  the  Son  by  the  Father,  the  Holy  Gh oft 
by  the  Father  and  the  Son,  that  all  thofe  vicious 
difpofitions  may  be  remov'd  far  from  me  which 
might  give  offence  to  thofe  Eyes  who  cannot  be- 
hold Iniquity  j  and  that  all  thofe  Virtues  may  be 
implanted,  and  grow,  and  flourifh,  and  abound 
in  me,  in  which  the  God  of  Unity  delights.  O 
thou  Maker  and  Preferver  of  all  things  viiible  and 
invifible !  keep,  I  befeech  thee,  the  Work  of  thy 
own  Hands ,  who  trufts  in  thy  Mercy  alone  for 
fafety  and  protedion.  Guard  me  with  the  Power 
of  thy  Grace^  here  and  in  all  places,  now  and  at 
all  times,  within  and  without,  before  and  behind, 
above  and  below  -,  let  thy  holy  Angels  pitch  their 
Tents  round  about  me ,  and  lb  poflefs  themfelves 
of  all  the  pafTes  to  my  Heart,  that  the  treacherous 
Enemy  of  Souls  may  have  no  place  left  open,  where-f 
by  to  make  his  approach. 

Thou  art  the  Guardian  and  Defender  of  all  that 

depend  upon  thee>   without  wiiofe  watchful  Care 

none  can  be  fafe^   without  whoft- mighty  Power 

none  is  a  match  for  the  Dangers  and  Temptations 

If.i.  45.  5.  which  every  Moment  befet  him.     Thou  art  God^ 

P^al.  56.    and  there  is  none  he  fide  thee^  in  Heaven  above,  or  in 

'^-  Earth  beneath :    Thou  art  Great  and  do  ft  wondrous 

things  5  Who  caii  recount,  who  can  conceive  them  ? 

Honour 


MEDITATIONS.  67 


Honour  and  Praife  are  thine  >  Angels  and  Spirits, 
and  all  the  Creation  join  in  fetting  forth  thy  Glory, 
and  paying  the  conmint  humble  Homage  due  from 
Creatures  to  their  Creator,  from  Servants  to  their 
Lord,  from  Subjcds  and  Soldiers  to  their  vidorious 
Leader  and  univerfal  King. 


CHAP.    XXXII. 

The  Traifes  of  Angels  and  Men. 

TO  thee  the  pure  and  lowly  in  Heart,  to  thee 
the  Souls  of  the  Righteous,  to  thee  the  Ci- 
tizens of  the  Heavenly  Jerufalem^  to  thee  the  nu- 
merous Orders  of  intellectual  Spirits,  fing  Hymns 
of  Joy  perpetually  >  fall  down  before  thy  Throne, 
caft  their  Crowns  at  thy  Feet,  and  with  profound- 
eft  reverence  adore  the  brightnefs  of  thy  Majefty. 
Not  only  thefe,  but  Man,  a  valuable  part  of  the 
Creation,  fince  form'd  in  thy  refemblance  and 
plac'd  chief  in  Honour  of  all  things  here  below, 
he  joins  in  Praifes  too,  though  not  able  to  dis- 
charge the  Duty  with  the  fame  noble  and  exalted 
Zeal  as  the  bright  Hofts  of  Heaven.  Nay,  even 
I,  the  laft  and  leaft  of  Men,  laden  with  fin  and 
frailty,  do  yet  defire  to  magnify  thee  worthily^  and 
to  love  thee  perfectly.  Help  me,  my  God,  my  Life, 
my  Strength,  ailiil  the  defires  thou  canft  not  but 
approve,  and  make  me  capable  of  glorifying  thee. 
Shed  abroad  thy  Light  in  my  Heart,  put  thy  Word 
in  mv  Mouth,  that  my  Heart  may  he  fiWd  with  thy 
Praife^  and  my  'Tongue  may  fing  of  thy  Glory  and 
Honour  all  the  day  long. 

But,  in  regard  Praife  is  not  co?nely  in  the  Mouth  of  a 
Sinner^  and  1,  alas !  am  a  Man  of  unclean  Lips^  purge 
me,  I  befeech  thee,  from  all  manner  of  Impurity  j 

Touch 


68 MEDITATIONS. 

llai.  6.5-  Touch  my  Heart  and  T'ongue  with  a  Coal  from  thine  Al- 
tar^ wafh  away  my  Filth,  and  purifie  all  my  Drofs, 
lb  fhall  I  be  fit  to  offer  thee  the  Sacrifice  of  Praife. 
And  when  I  do  fo,   be  thou  gracioufly  pleas'd  to 
accept  the  little  I  can  give,  according  to  the  Incli- 
Hof. 1 4-2.  nation  and  Sincerity  of  my  Heart,  accept  the  calves 
Heb    I.   of  my  Lips.     Let  7ny  Pruyer  he  fet  forth  in  thy  pre- 
'^lty^S'    fence ^  and  let  the  lifting  up  my  Hands  he  an  Evening 
Plal.  141.  Sacrifice.     Let  the  continual,  and  the  moil  delight- 
ful remembrance  of  thee  diffufe  a  conftant  Joy  thro' 
my  whole  Soul,  and  tranfport  it  with  a  moft  ardent 
love  of  invifible  BlciTings,   that  my  Affections  may 
rife  from  Earth  to  Heaven,  from  Temporal  Objefe 
to  Eternal,   and  from  the  dark  confus'd  View  of 
the  Creature,  to  the  aftoniflling  and  beatifick  Vifi- 
on  of  the  Creator. 
Pfal.  41.       O  Eternal  Truth,   and  true  Love,  and  beloved 
^*^'        Eternity  !    my  Soul   panteth    after  thee  Day  and 
Night  >  on  thee  all  my  Hopes  and  Thoughts  are 
fixed,  and  in  the  Enjoyment  of  thee  are  all  deter- 
min'd.     He  that  knows  thee,   knows  Truth  and 
I  Cor.i  3  Eternity  J    for  thou  art  feated  on  high,  above  all  5 
!-•  whom,  w^hen  this  Life  of  dimnefs  is  difpers'd,  and 

I  Job.  3.  the  Veil  of  mortal  Fiefh  drawn  afide,  wx  fee  as  thou 
i-  art.     At  prefent  the  Language  wherewith  others 

accofi:  me  is,  Where  is  thy  God  ?  and  the  Queflion  I 
often  put  to  thee  is,  Where  art  thou  now^  my  God  ? 
I  now  and  then  take  breath,  and  fcem  to  live, 
Pfal.  41.  when  I  pour  out  7ny  Heart  hefore  thee  in  the  voice  of 
joy  and  thankfgiving  \  but  even  in  the  mid  11:  of 
Mirth,  a  damp  comes  over  m.y  Spirits,  becaufe  my 
Soul  falls  back  again  from  thefe  pleafing  Exercifes  > 
and  even  when  mod  defirous  to  mount  up  above 
the  highefl  Heavens,  feels  it  felf  dragg'd  down  in- 
to a  dark  and  great  Deep,  or  rather  finds  it  (elf  to 
be  no  better  than  a  dark  and  great  Deep. 

In  this  Abyfs  indeed  fomctimes  I  perceive  fome 
glimmerings  of  Light,  from  that-Faith  which  thou 
haft  kindled  to  fiiine  in  the  dai'knefs.    This  fome- 

times 


MEDITATIONS.  6^ 


times  roufes  me  in  David's  firkin,  IVloy  art  thou  fo  pfal.  43. 
heavy ^  O^ny  Soul.,  a?id why  art  thou  fo  dlfquietedvoith^  5./^- 
in  me  ?  Still  put  thy  Trufl  in  God :  His  Word  is  a  119.  loj, 
lanthorn  to  my  feet.,  and  a  light  unto  my  Paths.    Still 
tmlt  in  God  till  the  night  wear  off,  and  the  wrath 
of  God,  of  which  we  were  fome  time  Children.,  be  Eph.  2. 3. 
over-paft,   and  the  overflowings  of  ungodlinefs  be 
carried  clean  away.     The  remains  of  thefe  mife- 
ries  we  muft  be  content  to  carry  about  us,  while 
burden'd  with  a  Body  dead  in  regard  of  Sin,  till 
fuch  time  as  the  Ihades  and  thick  clouds  be  difpel- 
led  by  the  dawn  of  the  day  of  Life.     Put  thou  thy 
trufl  in  God.,  and  tarry  his  Pleafure :  for  in  the  morn- 
ing I  lliall  Hand  before  Him,  and  behold  his  Gloiy, 
and  be  filled  with  his  Praife.     Even  His,  who  fliall 
quicken  our  mortal  Bodies  by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  Rom.  S. 
in  us.     His,  who  fhall  make  us  Light.,  that  we  may  ^  ^  • 
be  Children  of  the  Day.,  and  not  any  longer  of  the  i  Thcf.  j. 
Night.,  nor  of  Darknefs.     For  ive  were  fometimes  ^i: 
Darknefs.,   hut  now  are  we  Light  in  the  Lord.,    but  ^^    ^* 
fuch  we  are,  as  yet  by  Faith  only,  and  not  by  Sight 
and  Fruition.     For  we  2ire  faved  through  Hope.,  but  Rom,  S^ 
Hope  that  is  feen.,  is  not  Hope.  ^^, 

The  numerous  Progeny  of  Angels  and  Coeleflial 
Spirits  do  indeed  glorifie  thy  Name  after  a  manner 
very  different  from  ours.  They  have  no  need  to 
ftudy  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  learn  from  thence 
the  Glories  of  thy  Eflence.  They  fee  the  Bleffed 
Trinity  face  to  face,  and  read  in  thee  the  Coun- 
fels  of  thy  Eternal  Will  and  Wifdom :  They  read, 
and  choofe,  and  love  all  thy  good  Pleafure  5  and 
what  they  read,  they  never  lofe  the  remembrance 
of  Nor  iliall  this  Book  ever  be  fhut  to  them  -,  be- 
caufe  Thou  art  ever  prefent  with  them,  the  {ame 
to  all  Eternity,  exhibiting  thy  felf  continually  to 
their  Undcrilandings.  O  bleffed  Spirits,  who  are 
thus  enabl'd  to  offer  thee  the  tribute  of  their  praife 
without  any  mixture  of  infirmity,  without  any  in- 
terruption, without  the  alloy  of  anxious  Care  and 

Sor- 


70  MEDITATIONS. 

Sorrow,  who  drink  of  thy  Pleafures^  as  out  of  a 
River^  and  exult  witTi  the  fweet  Tninfports  of  Joy 
imfpeakable.  For  their  Praife  and  their  Joy  flow 
both  from  the  fame  Source  ^  and  they  who  always 
iee  thee,  cannot  but  always  praife,  and  always  re- 
joice in  thee. 

But  we  poor  feeble  Mortals,  weigh'd  down  with 
a  Body  of  Corruption,  placed  at  a  vail  diilancc 
from  the  bright  Beams  of  thy  Countenance,  and  di- 
ftrafted  with  variety  of  worldly  Cares  and  Events, 
are  not  in  condition  of  glorifying  thee  worthily. 
Our  profpc<St  is  but  dark  and  very  remote,  and  the 
little  we  are  able  to  do  is  by  the  help  of  Faith, 
and  not  by  Sight.  But  thofe  celeftial  Spirits  wait 
about  thy  Throne,  and  act  by  Sight,  and  not  by 
Faith.  This  gives  them  a  capacity  of  knowing, 
and  loving,  and  praifing,  above  what  the  prefent 
Hate  of  Flefh  and  Blood  will  admit  even  the  moft 
exalted  Devotee  upon  Earth  to  attain  to.  But  not- 
withflanding  the  different  manner  and  value  of 
their  more  perfe6t  and  our  feebler  Praifes,  flill  thou 
art  the  fame  God,  the  common  Father  and  Crea- 
tor of  Angels  and  Men.  The  Sacrifice  is  the  fame 
offered  in  Heaven  and  in  Earth,  and  centers  all  in 
thee  at  laft,  from  whatfoever  quarter  it  come. 
Nor  do  our  weakeft  ElTays,  when  compared  with 
their  nobleft  Performances,  difcourage  us  from 
hoping,  that  we  fhall  one  day,  by  thy  bounteous 
Mercy,  be  received  up  to  the  fame  blifsful  Manfi- 
ons,  made  Members  of  the  Heavenly  Choir,  and  in 
their  Company  fee,  and  adore,  and  praife  thy  glo- 
rious Name  for  ever.  In  the  mean  while,  Lord, 
grant  me  thy  Ailillance,  that  while  I  fojourn  in 
this  mortal  Body,  I  may  do  all  for  which  my  pre- 
fent Circumilances  are  qualified  j  that  my  Heart 
may  be  fenfibly  afTe6bed  with  thy  Goodnefs,  my 
pr^^l.  3  J.  Tongue  continually  Ipeak  of  thy  Honour,  and  all 
10.  77iy  Bones  fay ^  Lord^  "ujho  is  like  unto  thee? 

Thou 


MEDITATIONS.  71 

^  I        I  I        II  II    ,^ 

Thou  art  that  God  Ahiiighty,  Three  in  Perfon, 
but  One  in  Subllance,  the  Father  begotten  of 
none,  the  Son  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  the 
Holy  Ghofl  proceeding  from,  yet  ever  remaining 
in,  the  Father  and  Son  both  ^  whom  we  admire 
and  adore  ,  as  Trinity  in  Unity  ,  and  Unity  in 
Trinity:  When  we  were  nothing,  thy  Power  gave 
us  Being :  When  we  were  loft  by  Sin,  and  worfe 
than  nothing,  thy  ineftimable  Mercy  connived  a 
wonderful  Method  of  reftoring  us  to  a  new,  and 
fpiritual,  and  better  Life.  O  fuffer  us  not  to  be 
infenfible  and  unthankful  under  fo  gracious  a  Dif- 
penfation !  Help  us  to  walk  worthy  of  thy  mani- 
fold, thy  unfpeakable  Mercies  -,  and  encreafe  in  us 
daily  thy  Graces  5  ftrengthen  our  Faith,  exalt  our 
Hope,  and  enflame  and  enlarge  our  Charity. 

Enable  us,  by  the  powerful  Influence  of  thy  blef- 
fed  Spirit,  to  continue  ftedfaft  in  the  Belief  of  thy 
Truth,  and  plentifully  to  bring  forth  the  Fruits 
agreeable  to  that  Belief  5  that  fo,  by  a  true  Faith, 
and  a  fuitable  Practice,  thy  Mercy  may  at  laft  bring 
us  to  the  attainment  of  evciiafting  Salvation  j  that 
we  may  be  with  thee  where  thou  art  ^  and  fee  thee 
as  thou  art ,  and  adore  the  brightnefs  of  thy  Ma- 
jefty,  and  join  our  Hearts  and  Voices  with  thoie 
whom  thou  haft  already  admitted  to  that  glorious 
Sight,  in  Hymns  of  Joy  and  Praife.  Saying  with 
all  the  Company  of  Heaven,  Glory  to  the  Father 
whofe  Wifdom  created  us.  Glory  to  the  Son  whofe 
Love  redeemed  us ,  Glory  to  the  Holy  Spirit 
whofe  Graces  fandified  us.  Glory  to  the  Almigh- 
ty and  undivided  Trinity,  whofe  Works  are  in(e- 
parable,  and  Dominion  without  end.  To  thee  be- 
longs Praife,  and  Thankfgiving,  and  Honour,  and 
Bleffing :  And  therefore  all  Honour ,  and  Power, 
and  Thanks,  and  Praife  be  unto  thee  our  God,  for 
ever  and  ever. 


CHAP. 


72  MEDITATIONS. 


CHAP.    XXXIII. 

A  Trajer  for  Zeal  in  the  Service  and  Traife 

of  God. 


p 


I  Ardon,  O  gracious  Lord,  pardon  and  pity,  moft 
tender  Father,  my  wretched  Ignorance  and  ma- 
nifold Imperfe6lions.      Do  not  reje6t  my  forward- 
nefs  as  rafh  and  over-bold,  becaufc  I,  who  am  but 
a  Servant,   ( O  that  I  were  but  a  good,  and  not  a 
Luke  1 7 .  carelefs  and  unprofitable,    and  therefore  a  wicked 
10.  and  moft  unworthy  Servant)  prefume  to  praife  and 

adore  the  great  and  terrible  God.  And  when  I 
do  fo,  feel  not  my  Heart  touched  with  that  deep 
Contrition,  nor  my  Eyes  overflowing  with  Tears, 
nor  my  Soul  humbled  with  that  awful  Reverence 
and  godly  Fear,  which  beft  become  my  Vileneft 
and  thy  Majefty.  For  fure,  if  Angels  themfelves 
fall  down  and  tremble  before  thee,  it  is  but  fit 
that  fo  finful  a  Creature  as  I  fhould  approach  thee 
with  Dread  and  Sorrow  >  with  fad  Apprehenfions 
of  the  Juftice  I  have  provoked  to  Anger,  and  con- 
lliant  Lamentations  of  my  own  Guilt  and  Unwor-' 
thinefs  j  that  I  fhould  exceedingly  fear  and  qualce, 
and  never  come  into  thy  prefence,  but  with  a  pale 
dejected  Countenance,  with  weeping  Eyes,  and 
fnivering  Limb^.  This  I  am  fenfible  I  ought,  and 
this  I  wifh  to  do  5  but  yet  I  do  it  not  becaufe  I 
cannot  do  what  I  fincerely  wifh  I  could,  and  won- 
der greatly  that  I  cannot  bring  my  felf  to  do.  But 
who  is  able  to  do  this,  without  the  Afiillance  of 
thy  Grace?  For,  as  our  Salvation  it  felf  is  entirely 
thy  Gift,  fo  every  pious  Difpofition,  which  tends  to 
qiwlify  us  for  it,  is  of  thy  great  and  free  Mercy. 

O  wretched  Man!   whofe  Heart  is  fo  hard,  fa 

ilupid,   as  not  to  be  broken  with  the  Terrors  of 

the  Great  God,  when  he  appears  before  thee,  and 

takes   upon   him  to  publifli  thy  praife!    O  flinty 

I  Creature, 


MEDITATIONS.  73 

Creature,  more  impenetrable  than  the  nether  Mil- 
flone,  whofe  Eyes  do  not  melt  even  into  Floods  of 
Tears,  when  the  leaft  of  all  the  Servants  expoftu- 
lates  with  his  Mafter,  Man  with  God,  the  Crea- 
ture with  his  Creator,  Dull;  and  AOies  with  Him 
who  made  me  out  of  nothing !  Behold,  O  Lord,  I 
lay  my  felf  open  before  thee,  and  do  not  fpare  to 
tell  all  the  World  the  mean  and  guilty  Refle61:ions 
with  which  my  Thoughts  upbraid  me  when  alone. 
I  only  beg,  that  thou,  who  art  rich  in  Mercy,  wilt 
impart  to  me  out  of  thy  abundance  -,  and  from  the 
treafures  of  thy  Goodnefs  let  me  receive  fomething 
which  may  be  graciouily  accepted  by  thee.  For 
we  can  only  ferve  thee  of  thy  own ,  and  if  at  any 
time  thou  art  pleafed  with  our  Endeavours,  thole 
very  Endeavours  are  of  the  Ability  which  thou  thy 
felf  didil:  firfl  vouchfafe  to  give  us. 

Do  thou,  therefore,  from  whom  every  good  Gift 
Cometh,  ftrikc  this  Rock,  that  the  Waters  of  Holy 
Sorrow  may  flow  out  abundantly:    And  when  this 
iinful  Soul  attempts  to  pay  its  Tribute  of  Praifes 
and  Thankfgiving,  let  it  be  done  with  that  becom- 
ing mixture  of  HumiHty  and  Remorfe,  of  profound 
Reverence  and  inward  Purity,  and  holy  Joy,  which 
they  who  love  thee  perfedlly,  and  praife  thee  wor- 
thily, feel  their  Hearts  affe&d  with  5   fuch  as  may 
entitle  me  to  all  thofe  fpiritual  Comforts  defcribed 
in  Scripture  3  when  it  is  faid,    O  tafte  and  fee  hovj  pfai.  34.8. 
gracious  the  Lord  is.     BJeJfed  is  the  Man  that  truji-  79.  86. 
eth  in  him.     Blejfed  is  the  People  that  can  rejoice  in'^S-  S><^'7' 
thee.      Blejfed  is  the  Man  whofe  ftrength  is  in  thee^ 
in  whofe  Heart  are  thy  Ways^  who  pajfmg  through  the 
Valley  of  Weeping  make  it  a  Well^   and  go  from 
ftrength  to  ftrength^   till  they  appear  in  Si  on.     And, 
Blejfed  are  the  pure  in  Hearty  for  they  ft) all  fee  God.  Mart.  5.S. 
And  again,  Bleffed^  Lord.^  are  they  that  dwell  in  //^jy  Pial.  85.4. 
Houfe^  they  will  he  always  praifing  thee. 

F  2.  CHAP, 


o 


74  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.    XXXIV. 
An  A[i  of  T>e'Votion  and  Love  of  Go t>, 

BlefTed  Jefus,  my  Sacrifice  and  Ranfom,  the 
Delight  and  Defire  of  my  Soul,  God  of  God ! 
mercifully  ailift  the  Prayers  of  thy  humble  Servant. 
On  thee  I  call,  to  thee  I  cry  with  a  loud  Voice^ 
and  from  the  very  bottom  of  my  Heart.  Thy  pre- 
fence  1  invite  into  my  Soul,  O  enter  there  and  fit  it 
Eph.5.i7-up  for  thy  felf,  that  it  may  not  offend  thee  by  Spot 
or  JVrinkk^  or  any  fuch  things  but  be  Holy  and  with" 
out  Blemifi.  For  fure  a  clean  DweUing  only  can  be 
acceptable  to  the  Purity  of  fo  divine  an  Inhabitant. 
Do  thou  therefore  fancfcify  me,  a  VefTel  made  by 
thy  own  Hand  y  and  make  me  fit  for  thy  own  ufe : 
Purge  out  all  the  remains  of  Wickedneis  -,  fill  me 
with  thy  Grace,  and  keep  me  ever  in  that  fulnels, 
that  I  may  be  built  up  a  Holy  Temple,  an  Habita- 
tion fuch  as  my  God  will  not  difdain  here  and  for 
ever.  O  fweetefl,  kindeft,  deareft,  moft  powerful, 
moll  precious,  loveheft  and  moft  beautiful  Saviour  [ 
more  delicious  than  Honey,  whiter  than  Snow,  of 
more  value  than  Gold  and  precious  Stones,  and 
dearer  to  me  than  all  the  Riches,  and  Honours,  and 
Pleafures  this  World  can  afford ! 

But  what  does  all  I  have  faid  amount  to,  my  J 
God,  my  only  Hope,  my  unfpeakable  Mercy? 
What  have  I  faid,  m.y  fweet  Repofe,  my  fure  Re- 
fuge, in  all  this  .^  Alas !  I  fay  as  much  as  I  can,  tho' 
in  no  degree  what  I  ought,  upon  fo  glorious  a 
SubjecL.  O  that  I  were  capable  of  exprefling  thy 
.  Excellencies  in  as  perfect  and  becoming  a  manner 
as  the  melodious  Choirs  of'  Angels  do  in  their  per- 
petual Conforts  of  Pralfc!  How  gladly  would  I 
then  fpend  all  my  Breath,  and  even  warble  out  my 
Soul  in  Songs  of  Thankfgiving  ?  With  what  ar- 
dent, what  indefiUigable  Devotion  would  I  proclaim 
i  thy 


MEDITATIONS.  75 


thy  Glories  in  the  midft  of  thy  Congregations !  But 
if  I  cannot  do  fo  much  as  becomes  me,  is  that  a 
reafon  why  I  fhould  do  nothing  ?  No,  I  will  exert 
my  utmoft  powers,  and  fpeak  my  beil ,  though  I 
can  never  ipeak  enough  :  For  woe  to  them  that 
are  filent  on  this  occalion  3  fince  them  who  are 
willing  thou  rendreil:  able,  making  even  the  dumb 
to  fpeak  3  and  out  of  the  Mouths  of  very  Babes  and  pfal,  8.2. 
Sucklings  perfe^ing  Praife.  Woe  then  to  them  who 
do  not  employ  their  Tongues  to  thy  Honour,  fince 
even  the  greateil  Mailers  of  Eloquence,  who  ufq 
them  mofl  and  beil,  yet  in  effed  are  dumb,  and  fay 
nothing  to  purpofe,  when  they  do  not  employ  their 
Tongues  to  thy  Honour. 

Who  can  fet  forth  thy  Greatnefs  as  it  deferves, 

0  inexpreffible  Power  and  Wifdom  of  the  F-ather ! 
But,  in  regard  no  Words  are  to  be  found  fufficient 
to  declare  the  Omnipotent  and  Omniprefent  TVorcl^ 

1  will  at  lead  contrive  the  beil  I  can ,  and  go  the 
greateft  length  Mortality  is  qualified  for,  till  thou 
ihalt  receive  me  to  thy  own  felf,  and  enable  me  to 
exprefs  my  Praifcs  in  terms  fuitable  to  thy  Dignity 
and  my  Duty.  In  the  mean  while  it  is  my  earnell 
requeft,  that  thou  wouldll  meafure  my  prefent 
feeble  Eflays,  not  by  what  I  fay,  but  what  I  dcfire 
to  fay.  For  it  is  the  moil  vehement  willi  and  long- 
ing of  my  Soul,  to  give  fuch  Praifes  as  I  know  are 
becoming  fo  great  a  Majefly  to  receive,  'and  a  due 
Homage  for  a  Creature  to  give.  And  thou,  my 
God,  who  knoweft  the  fecrets  of  all  Hearts,  and 
art  confcious  to  every  motion  of  my  Soul,  canft 
bear  me  witnefs ,  that  Heaven  and  Earth ,  and  all 
that  therein  is,  are  of  fmall  confideration  with  me 
in  comparifon  with  thee.  Whatever  elfe  may 
challenge  a  place  in  my  Affedlion,  ceafes  to  be  of 
^ny  regard  at  all ,  and  ought  indeed  to  be  hated, 
when  put  in  the  balance  with  my  God.  This  is  Luk.  14. 
the  real  fenfe  of  my  Soul,  with  fuch  unrival'd, ^-^. 
fuch  a  fervent  Pilffion  I  Jove  my  Gadj    i\nd  yet 

F  3  am 


7<5  MEDITATIONS. 


am  fenfible  withal ,  that  this  is  Icfs  than  thy  due, 
and  therefore  dclire  above  all  things  to  love  Thee 
itill  more  and  more. 

O  Grant  that  I  may  daily  grow  and  continue 
for  ever  ftedfaft  in  thy  Love ,   that  I  may  pay  thee 
all  the  AfFeftion  I  wifh  I  could,  all  I  owe  and  fhould 
pay  'y   that  thou  may'll  be  my  only  x^im  and  End, 
pfal.63.6.the  only  Obje6t  of  my  Thoughts.     Let  my  Days 
be  fpent   in   meditating    upon    thee   inceffantly  , 
and  my  Dreams  prefent  no  other  Idea  to  my  Lua- 
gination :  Let  my  Spirit  confer  with  thee  upon  my 
Bed,   and  remember  thee  alone  when  waking  in 
the  Night  feafon.     Let  the  Light  of  thy  Coun- 
tenance ihine  through  every  corner  of  my  Heart, 
that  under  thy  Government   and  Condud  I  may 
Pfal.  85/'.  proceed  Strength  to  Strength^  till  at  length  I  fee  the 
God  of  Gods  in  Sion  -y    and  whom  I  now  can  only 
take  an  imperfe61:  Glimpfe  of  through  a  dark  and 
I  Cor.  1 3 .  broken  Glafs,  may  then  behold  Face  to  Face^  and  know 
II.  e'ven  as  I  am  known.     And  fince  this  is  a  Blefiing 

Mat.  5.  0.  pj-omifed  in  a  peculiar  manner  to  the  pure  in  Hearty 
I  entreat  thee,  by  all  that  Goodnefs  and  Compaf- 
fion,  which  hath  delivered  us  from  Death  eternal, 
let  thy  moil:  powerful  Holy  Union  foften  this 
tough,  hard,  rocky  Heart  of  mine,  and  render  it 
fufceptible  of  tender  and  good  Lnpreiiions ,  that 
the  Fire  of  Compun61:ion  and  Holy  Zeal  may  be 
cheriilicd' there  continually,  and  render  it  a  daily 
living  Sacrifice  unto  thee. 

Grant  me  the  Grace  of  an  humble  and  contrite 
Spirit,  that  I  may  come  into  thy  Prefence  wafhed 
clean  with  Tears  of  Godly  Sorrow.  And  let  my 
Aifedions  be  fo  infeparably  united  to  thee,  that  I 
may  have  no  carnal  Defires  left,  but  be  utterly  cold 
and  dead  to  this  World.  Let  me  not  fo  m.uch  as 
remember  tranlitory  things  for  the  vehemxnce  of 
that  Fear  and  Love  I  bear  to  God  j  that  thefe  mo- 
mentary Trifles  may  no  longer  be  matter  of  Grief 
or  Joy,  or  Concern  to  me  5  nor  any  flattering  Prof- 

perity 


MEDITATIONS.  77 


perity  have  power  to  byafs  or  corrupt  my  Heart,  nor 
any  terror  of  Adverfity  to  iliake  my  Conilancy. 
And  becaufe  the  Love  of  thee  is  flrong  as  Death 
it  felf,  let  this,  I  befeech  thee,  entirely  poflefs  and 
fwallow  up  my  Soul  5  let  that  fweet  and  holy  Fire 
confume  all  the  Drofs  of  worldly  AfFedions,  that  I 
may  cleave  to  thee  alone,  and  make  it  my  conilant  John  4. 
Meat  and  Drink  to  do  thy  Will,  and  know  noRe- 
frelTiments  but  fuch  as  flow  from  the  delightful  Re- 
membrances of  thee. 

Send  down,  O  Lord,  fend  down  into  my  Heart 
thy  precious  Odours,   that  I  may  be  ravifhed  with 
the  fragrance  of  my  heavenly  Spoufe.     Let  the  de- 
lightful reliih  of  thy  fweetnefs  excite  in  me  holy 
and  eager  Defircs,   and  be  in  me  a  fVell  of  /m>;^  Job.  4.1 4' 
Water  [pinging  up  to  everlafting  Life.     Thy  Great- 
nefs,   O  my  God,   is  unmeafurable,   and*  therefore 
the  Love  of  thee  ought  to  be  fo  too  5    for  furc  no 
bounds  ought  to  determine  the  Gratitude  and  Praife 
.of   thofe  whom  thou  haft  vouch fafed   to  redeem 
with  thy  own  moft   precious  Blood.      O   tender 
Lover  of  Souls !    O  merciful  Lord !    O  righteous 
Judge,  to  whom  xh^  Father  hath  committed  alljudg- 
ment!   Thou  feeft  and  haft  declared  how  fit  it  is, 
that  the  Children  of  this  World  fhould  not  in  their  i^ixkt  16. 
Generation  be  wifer  than  the  Children  of  Light  j  that  8. 
the  Sons  of  Night  and  Darknefs  ought  to  be  our 
Pattern  5  and  that  it  is  juft  Matter  of  Reproach  to 
us,  if  they  {hall  love  and  purfue  the  perifhing  Riches 
and  fleeting  Pleafures  and  Advantages  with  a  more 
intcnfe  Defire,  and  more  unwearied  Endeavours  than 
thy  own  Servants  feek  and  love  the  Source  and  Sum 
of  their  true  Happinefs :  Even  thee  their  God,  who     . 
made  them  when  they  were  not,    and  redeemed 
them  when  otherwife  it  were  better  for  them  not 
to  have  been  at  all. 

And  if  one  Man  love  another  Man  fo  fervently, 
if  a  Spoufe  be  fo  fond  of  her  beloved,  as  not,  with- 
out the  utmoft  Impa,tience,  and  even  inconfolable 

F  4  Grief^i 


78  MEDITATIONS. 

Grief  5  to  bear  the  abfence  of  a  Friend  fo  dear  : 
What  Affeftion,  what  Zeal,  what  ardent  defire  of 
conftant  Union,  ought  that  Soul  to  exprefs,  whom 
thou  haft  betroth'd  and  marry'd  to  thy  felf  by 
Faithfulnefs  and  Mercies  manifold  ?  How  ought 
we  to  be  converfing  with,  and  enjoying  the  Great 
God,  the  moft  amiable  Hufband ,  who  hath  loved 
us  and  faved  us  after  fo  aftonifhing  a  manner,  and 
for  our  Sakes  done  fo  many,  fo  great,  fo  kind,  fo 
wonderful  things!  For  though  the  Objects  here 
below  have  indeed  fome  Delights  pecuhar  to  them- 
felves,  which  attract  our  Hearts ,  and  kindle  Af- 
fections and  Defires  proportioned  to  them  j  yet  do 
not  they  affe£t  us  after  the  lame  manner,  as  thou 
our  God,  and  the  blefled  Objects  above  do.  The 
righteous  Man  rejoices  in  thee,  bccaufe  the  Love 
of  thee  ft  a  calm  and  fweet  refentment.  For  every 
Breaft  thus  difpofed,  is  filled  with  an  equal,  fecure 
and  ferene  Pleafure.  But  the  love  of  the  World 
and  the  Flefli  is  ruffled  with  anxious  Fears,  and  vio- 
lent Emotions :  It  utterly  deftroys  the  Peace  of  the 
Soul  where  it  takes  pofleflion,  and  diftracls  them 
with  Cares  and  Sufpicions,  with  Jealoufie  and  Paf- 
fions,  and  a  thouiand  uneaiie  Apprehenfions. 

Mofl:  juftly,  therefore,  art  thou  the  Joy  and  De- 
light of  good  Men,  becaufe  thou  art  the  only  Ha- 
ven where  they  are  at  reft  j  and  with  thee  alone 
is  that  Life  which  brings  quietnefs  and  afTurancc, 
Icttled  and  fincere  Pleafure.  He  that  enters  into 
thee,  enters  into  the  Joy  of  his  Lord,  where  fears 
of  future  Evils  have  no  place.  Fixed  in  this  moft 
happy  Station,  and  fecure  of  change  or  danger,  he 
can  fpeak  comfort  to  his  Soul  in  tbefe  words  of  the 
Pfal.  131.  Pfalmift,  'this  Jh all  he  my  reft  for  ever^  here  I  ckvelly 
*  4-  for  I  have  a  delight  therein.   And  again.  The  Lord  is 

^3-  ^^-  my  Shepherd^  therefore  can  I  lack  nothing:  He  ft j  all 
make  me  to  lie  down  in  green  PaftureSj  and  fend  mQ 
forth  beftde  the  fill  JVaters. 

O  that 


MEDITATIONS.  79 


O  that  it  might  pleafe  my  fwceteil,  dearelljefus, 
to  fill  my  Heart  with  liich  a  Love  of  him,  as  never 
can  be  quenched  5  to  be  ever  prefent  in  Mind,  that 
I  may  be  all  over  Love ,  and  burn  with  perpetual 
Defires  of  his  Company  and  Enjoyment.  Let  this 
Defire  exalt  my  Heart,  and  enable  it  to  throw  ofF 
that  troublefome  load  of  fendial  and  worldly  Affec- 
tions, which  now  obilmft  and  prefs  me  down,  and 
do  but  add  to  my  Miferies ,  inftead  of  gratifying 
my  IncHnations.  And,  having  laid  afide  this  weight, 
help  me  to  run  chearfully  and  apace  after  theQdour 
of  thy  Ointments,  Hill  keeping  on  my  courfe  with- 
out  incumbrance  or  diverfion ,  till  by  thy  gracious 
Guidance  I  at  laft  fhall  be  received  to  thy  own  feli^ 
there  to  be  feailed  for  ever  with  the  Pleafarcs  of 
thy  beauteous  Prefence. 

For  two  fo  different  Paflions,  a  Good  and  Evil, 
a  Sweet  and  Bitter,   cannot  dwell  together  in  the 
iiime  Breaft.     And  therefore,    if  a  Man  love  any 
thing  beiides  thee,  the  Love  of  God  is  not  in  him.  i  joh.  i. 
O  Love  of  exquiiite  Pleafure,   and  exquilite  Plea-  is- 
Ture  of  Love !    Love,  all  Delight  without  allay  of 
Tor/nent  j    Love,  chafte  and  perfect,  whofe  bright 
flame  never  can  be  extind,    but  burns  pure  and 
cheerful  to  all  Eternity  •,    my  God,  my  Jefus,  who 
art  Love  and  Pleafure  in  the  abftract,   inflame  my 
every  part  with  this  holy  Fire,    pour  thy  tranfport- 
ing  Joys  ,    thy  inexpreflible  Comforts   and   fweet 
Raptures  abundantly  into  my  Soul  j   kindle  there 
Deflres  chafle  and  holy ,   peaceful  and  calm ,   plea- 
fant  and  fccure,  that  thus  overflowing  with  delight, 
and  enflam'd  with  defire,  I  may  love  thee,  ?nyGod^  \Ux.  la. 
"with  all  my  Hearty  and  SouJ^  and  Strength :  That  thou  3^- 
may'll  be  always  in  m.y  Mind,   and  Mouth,  and 
Sight,  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places  >  and  fo  refrefh 
me,  that  no  room  may  be  left  for  any  other,  w^hich 
are  indeed  no  better  than  unfaithful  and  adulterous 
Pailions. 

Heai- 


8o  MEDITATIONS. 


Hear  me,  my  God  5  hear,  thou  Light  of  my  Eyes, 
hear  what  I  alk,  and  grant  my  Petitions  >  and  that 
thou  may'ft  hear  me  etfe6i:ually,  do  thou  infpire  and 
direct  my  Petitions.  O  merciful  and  gracious  Lord ! 
let  not  my  manifold  Offences  flop  thy  Ears  againft 
my  Prayers,  nor  lliut  out  thy  Mercy  from  me :  But 
let  thy  Servant  obtain  his  Requefts,  though  not  for 
any  Merit  of  his  pwn,  yet  for  the  fake  of  His  Me^ 
rits  and  Interceffion  in  whom  alone  he  trufts,  and 
by  Him  only  prefumes  to  ask  any  thing :  Even  the 
Bleffed  Jefus,  the  Son  of  thy  Love,  the  One^  the 
1  Tim.  1.  powerful  Mediator  bet-zveen  God  and  Man  j  w^ho 
5.  with  thee  and  thy  bleffed  Spirit,  liveth  and  reign- 

eth  for  Ever.     Amen, 


o 


CHAP.    XXXV. 
A  T)evoiit  Trayer  to  Christ, 

Lord  Jefus,  the  Anointed  of  God,  the  Word 
of  the  Father,  who  cameft  into  the  World  on 
purpofe  to  fave  Sinners !  I  conjure  thee  by  the  moll 
enlarged  Bowels  of  thy  indulgent  Mercy,  let  me 
ceafe  to  do  evil^  learn  to  do  well^  and  reduce  all  my 
Aftions  to  rule  and  due  order  -,  take  away  from  me 
ivhatfocver  is  offenftve  to  thee,  and  hurtful  to  my 
felf  j  and  implant  in  me  all  thole  Virtues  and  Graces 
which  may  conduce  to  my  Soul's  Advantage,  and 
Job  14- 4  thy  good-liking  and  acceptance  of  me.  M^ho  can 
R 0111.4.5.^^-/^^^  ^  f^lQ^y^  fjjlyig  Q^f  of  an  unclean^  but  thou  alone  ? 

Thou  art  a  God  infinite  in  Goodncfs  and  Power,  y///^ 
Eph.  2. 1  tifying  the  Ungodly ^  quickenlyig  them  that  lay  dead  in 
1'refpaffes  ayid  Sins^  changing  the  Hearts  of  Men,  and 
forming  them  into  new  and  different  Creatures. 
Thy  Eyes  behold  my  many  and  great  Imperfecti- 
ons :  Look  down  upon  them  with  an  Eye  of  Pity^ 
fend  down  thy  Hand  of  Compallioa  from  above^ 

and 


MEDITATIONS. 8i 

and  remove  far  from  me  whatever  is  difplealing  in 
thy  Sight.  My  fpiritual  Health  and  Difeafes  are 
both  in  thy  Sight,  O  itrengthcn ,  I  befeech  thee, 
and  preferve  the  former ,  and  in  much  Mercy  heal 
the  latter. 

Heal  thou  me,  bleffed  Phyfician  of  Souls ,   and 
fo  fhall  I  be  heal'd  j    hold  thou  me  up,   thou  Al- 
mighty Preferver  of  Men,   and  fo  {hall  I  be  fafe. 
Thou  who  give  ft  Medicines  for  the  cure  of  our  Sicknefs^  Pfai.  147. 
and  fullainell  that  Health  which  is  thy  own^  thou  3. 
who  repairell  our  Breaches,  and  buildeft  up  our  de- 
cay'd  Ruins  with  a  Word  of  thy  Mouth.     If  thou 
think  fit  (as  I  hope  thou  wilt)  to  fow  the  good  Seed  Luke  8, 
in  thy  Field  my  Heart,   the  firft  part  of  that  blef-  M- 
fed  Work  mull  be  to  prepare  and  correct  the  Soil, 
by  rooting  out  the  Weeds  and  Thorns  of  vicious 
Habits  and  Difpofitions,  which  elfe  will  choak  the 
Work,  and  m^ake  it  unfruitful.     O  fweetelf,  kind- 
efc,  dearefr  Jefus !    pour  into  me,   I  beg  thee,   the 
abundance  of  thy  Love,   that  there  may  be  no  re- 
mains of  earthly  or  fcnfual  Defires  or  Thoughts  in 
my  Breaft,  but  thou  and  thy  Love  may  reign  un- 
rival'd  there,  and  pofTefs  my  Heart  entirely.    Write 
thy  Name  in  my  Mind,  that  thou  and  thy  Commands 
may  be  ever  before  my  Eyes.     Kindle  in  my  Soul 
that  holy  Fire  which  thou  haft  fent  into  the  World, 
that  it  may  melt  away  my  Drofs,   and  qualify  me 
for  offering  to  thee  the  daily  Sacrifice  of  a  broken 
and  contrite  Spirit. 

Sweeteft  Redeemer,  as  thou  haft  given  me  the 
fmcere  dcfire,  fo  give  me  the  attainment  of  thy 
chafte  and  holy  Love,  fervent  as  my  Defire,  and 
entire  as  the  Sincerity  with  which  I  afk  it.  Let  myyzx,^.  i, 
Head  he  Waters^  and  my  Eyes  a  Fountain  of  Tears^ 
that  thefe  may  fpeak  for  me,  and  teftify  the  great- 
nefs  of  my  Love,  and  the  inward  delights  1  feel, 
too  big  to  be  contained  within  my  Heart,  and  per- 
petually running  over  in  Tears  of  Joy. 

Ifre- 


8i  MEDITATIONS. 

I  Sam.  I.  I  frequently  call  to  Mind  the  devout  Addrelles  of 
thy  Servant  Hannah^  who  came  to  thy  Tabernacle 
to  beg  a  Son  frora  thee :  And,  upon  each  remem- 
brance of  her  remarkable  Piety  and  Perfeverance  in 
Prayers,  I  find  my  felf  tormented  with  Grief,  and 
confounded  with  Shame,  for  my  own  coldnefs  and. 
deadnefs  in  Devotion.  For,  if  fhe  did  not  only 
weep,  but  continue  weeping,  in  hopes  of  obtaining 
a  Son>  what  affectionate  Complaints,  what  mea- 
fure  of  Tears  become  my  Soul,  which  comes  to 
thee  in  Prayer,  which  feeks  and  loves  my  God  and 
Saviour,  defiring  to  receive  him ,  and  be  received 
to  him  ?  What  fighs  and  groanings,  what  earneft 
gafpings,  what  impatient  thirftings  ought  I  to  bring 
who  am  in  purfuit  of  my  God  day  and  night,  and 
defire  to  love  and  to  enjoy  nothing  but  him  only  ? 
O  look  then  upon  me,   and  extend  thy  Mercy  to 

Pfal.  15.   me,  for  the  Sorrows  of  my  Heart  are  enlaj-g'd:   Per- 

17-  mit  me  to  tafte  of  thy  Heavenly  Comforts,  and  do 

not  difdain  that  finful  Soul ,  for  which  thou  didfl 
not  grudge  to  die.  Give  me  plenteoufnefs  of  Tears 
flowing  from  an  affe6tionate  Heart,  fuch  as,  by  la- 
menting, may  prevail  for  forgivenefs  of  my  Sins,  a 
releafe  from  the  Bands  with  which  I  have  fo  long 
been  tir'd,  and  a  godly  Sorrow,  which  may  produce 
Spiritual  and  Heavenly  Joy.  That,  if  I  cannot  rife 
to  that  exalted  pitch  of  Zeal,  with  fome  illuftrious 
Martyrs  and  Confeflbrs,  and  eminently  devout 
Men,  whofe  bright  Examples  I  defpair  of  coming 
up  with ',  I  may  however  not  fuffer  my  felf  to  be 
outdone  by  the  weaker  Sex,  but  be  admitted  to  a 
fliare  in  thy  Kingdom  with  devout  Women. 

Another  inftance  of  Female  Devotion  comes  alfb 
often  into  my  remembrance :  Her,  I  mean,  whofe 
vehement  Affcftion  for  thee  put  her  upon  waiting 
at  thy  Sepulchre  >  who,  though  thyDifciples  went 

Job.  XX.  ^way,  would  not  depart  w^ith  them ,  but  flit  there 
weeping,  and  deploring  the  fuppos'd  lofs  of  her 
dear  Lord  3  and  rifing  frequently,  return'd  to  fcarch 

the 


MEDITATIONS.  83 

the  empty  Cave  with  anxious  Eyes,  not  trufting 
her  own  Senfes,  but  hoping  and  feeking  ftill,  in 
defpight  of  their  former  reports,  to  fee  Him  whom 
her  Soul  loved.  She  hadj  no  doubt,  examin'd  the 
Grave  with  a  mbft  nice  diligence  before  -,  but  ftill 
her  paflionate  delires  could  not  be  fatisfy'd,  that 
ihe  had  fought  thee  with  fufficient  Care.  For  that 
which  crowns  and  recommends  every  good  Work, 
is  the  Virtue  of  Perfeverance.  This  Perfon  then, 
becaufe  fhe  lov'd  more  than  the  reft,  and  exprefs'd 
that  love  by  her  weeping,  and  fought  thee  care- 
fully with  Tears,  and  ftill  continu'd  feeking,  not- 
withftanding  fo  many  former  difappointments,  ob- 
tain'd  the  preference  above  the  reft,  and "  had  the 
Honour  to  find,  and  fee,  and  converfe  with  thee, 
before  any  other  Perfon  whatfoever. 

Not  only  fo,  but  She  was  made  choice  of  to  be- 
the  firft  Preacher  of  thy  glorious  Refurre61:ion.  By 
her  thou  didft  impart  the  joyful  tydings  to  thy  dif- 
confolate  Difciplcs,  and  refrefti  their  Memories, 
with  thy  Promife  of  vifiting  them  again,  faying, 
Go  tell  my  Brethren^  that  I  go  into  Galilee^  there  Jh all  Mm.  iS. 
they  fee  me.  If  then  this  Woman  wept  fo  tenderly,  '^• 
who  fought  the  Living  among  theDead^  andtouch'd 
thee  with  the  Hand  of  Faith,  how  ftiould  that  Soul 
be  aftefted,  and  how  lafting  ought  that  AfFe6lion 
to  be,  which  believes  in  the  Heart,  and  confeffes 
with  the  Mouth,  a  glorify'd  Redeemer  enthron'd 
in  Heaven,  and  reigning  over  the  whole  World  ? 
What  Sighs  and  Tears  (hould  breath  out  from  that 
Heart,  which  loves  nothing  but  thee,  and  above 
all  things  longs  to  gain  a  Sight  of  thee:  Of  thee, 
the  only  refuge  and  hope  of  the  miferable,  who  art 
never  addrefs'd  to  without  a  comfortable  Expecta- 
tion of  Mercy? 

In  this  Confidence  I  entreat  thee,  for  thy  own 
fake,  and  for  the  Glory  of  thy  Holy  Name,  to 
grant  me  fuch  a  tender  and  afFedionate  Senfe  of 
thy  Goodnefs,    and  my  own  Unworthinefs,   that 

every 


u 


MEDITATIONS. 


every  time  I  think,  or  fpeak,  or  read,  or  write  of, 
upon  every  remembrance  of,    every  approach   to 
my  God  and  Saviour,   in  the  Sacrifices  of  Prayer 
and  Praifc,  my  Eyes  may  overflow  w^ith  Tears  of 
Remorfe  and  Love.   Thou  the  King  of  Glory,  the 
Teacher  and  Pattern  of  all  Virtues,  haft  inftrufted 
us  to  weep,  both  by  thy  Word,  and  by  thy  own  Ex- 
Mat.  5.  4- ample.    Thou  haft  faid,  Blcjfed  are  they  thatmourn^ 
John  II.  for  they  Jlmll  be  comforted:  And  didft  thy  felf  fhed 
35.  Tears  of  Compaflion  for  thy  deceas'd  Friend,  and 

yet  more  abundantly  for  the  ungracious  City  of  thy 
People,  and  its  approaching  Deftru6lion. 
Luke  19      By  thy  moft  precious  Tear^,  and  by  all  the  won- 
41-  derful  Inftances  of  thy  Mercy  for  the  relief  of  loft 

Mankind,  I  beg  the  Grace  of  Tears  and  godly  Sor- 
row, which  my  Soul  vehemently  thirfts  after.     I 
cannot  attain  to  this,    unlefs   thou   vouchfafc   to 
give  it  me  j  for  it  is  thy  Holy  Spirit  alone  that  can 
bring  Water  out  of  this  Rock,  and  foften  the  Hearts 
of  hardened  Sinners.     This  thou  ha;ft  been  pleas'd 
to  communicate  freely  to  many  primitive  and  emi- 
nent Saints,  whofe  pious  Footfteps  I  dare  to  tread 
in.     Send  down  thy  former  and  thy  latter  Rain, 
and  water  this  dry  Soil  with  the  dew  of  Heaven, 
that  I  may  with  true  Compunction  bewail  my  Sin 
and   Mifery  j    and   kindle  in  my  Heart  a  fervent 
•  Zeal,   that  I  may  be  a  Burnt-offering  to  thee,   a 
Sacrifice  of  fweet  favour  in  thy  prefence.     And  let 
my  Tears  wafh  that  polluted  Offering,  that  it  may 
be  prefented  clean  and  pure.     For  of  thefe  I  {hall 
ftill  have  daily  need  5  becaufe,  tho'  by  the  aftiftance 
of  thy  Grace  I  confecrate  my  felf  never  fo  devout- 
ly, and  entirely  to  thy  Service,  yet  fuch  is  my  frail- 
J3.m.  3, 1.  ty,  tfiat  ftill  in  mmy  things  I  ftiall  offend.    Grant  me 
therefore  this  neceffary  Grace,  that  I  may  tafte  of 
thy  Cup,  and  quench  my  Thirft,  that  my  Soul  may 
ever  pant  after  thee,   and  burn  with  the  Love  of 
thee  alone,  regardlels  of  any  other  Objc6t,  and  get- 
ting above  the  Vanities  ot   Senfe,   and  Mifcries  of 
the  World,  Hear 


MEDITATION  S 8  j 

"■  "'       ■  ■  '  t      '        '    ' 

Hear  me,  my  God,  hearken,  thou  Light  of  my 
Eyes,  grant  me  my  Requeft,  and  grant  me  to  aik 
fuch  things  as  thou  deHghteft  to  give.     Let  not  my 
manifold  Offences  flop  the  current  of  thy  Grace, 
whofe  property  it  is  to  be  ixGod  hearing  Prayer^  and  Pfal.  55.1, 
always  to  have  Mercy.     But,  according  to  the  mid-  ^ '•  ^• 
titude  of  thy  Mercies  do  away  mine  Offences^  and^^"  ^* 
think  upon  me^  O  Lordj  for  thy  Goodnefs. 


CHAP.    XXXVI. 
Another  Grayer  to  the  fame  Tiirpofe, 

O  Gracious  Saviour,  O  merciful  Lord  Jefus, 
who  waft  pleas'd  to  die  for  our  Sins,  and  rife  Rom.  4; 
again  for  our  Jeftifi cation,  be  alfo  pleas'd,  by  that  2.5. 
glorious  Refurredion,  I  befeech  thee,  good  Lord, 
to  raife  me  from  the  Death  of  Sin  to  the  Life  of 
Righteoufnefs  j  that  fo  partaking  now  in  the  firft 
and  fpiritual,  I  may  be  admitted  to  partake  of  the 
bleiTed  and  literal  'Refurredion  at  the  laft  Day. 
Sweeteft,  kindeft,  deareft  Lord,  moft  mighty  King 
of  Glory,  who  haft  afcended  with  great  Triumph 
unto  thy  Kingdom  in  Heaven,  and  fitteft  enthron'd 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father  >  Dmw  me  up  to 
thee  J  that  by  thy  powerful  Guidance,  and  more 
than  magnetick  Force,  I  may  run  after  the  Odour 
of  thy  Ointments,  and  not  faint.  Draw  this  thir- 
fty  Soul  to  the  Rivei^  of  eternal  Pleafure,  to  the 
Fountain  of  living  Water,  that  I  may  drink  my  fill, 
and  live  for  ever,  O  God  of  my  Life. 

They  are  thy  own  moft  conifortable  Wor(^,  //"Job.?. 37, 
any  Man  thirft^  let  hi?n  come  unto  me  and  drink.  O  S^,  39- 
Well  of  Life !  make  good  that  gracious  Invitation 
to^  thy  unworthy  Servant,  that  I  may  continually 
drink  of  thee,  and  quench  my  eager  thirftings, 
and,  according  to  thy  moft  true  Promife,  be  fo 
fiU'd  with  thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  out  of  my  Belly  may 

flovi 


86  MEDITATIONS. 


^■^*' 


fiow  Streams  of  Having  Water.      O  Well  of  Life! 

Pul  36.8  give  r}%&  drink  out  of  thy  Plea  fur  es  as  out  of  a  River ^ 
latiate  my  Soul  with  the  delights  of  thy  Love,  that 
I  may  lole  all  relilli  for  vain,  and  fenfual,  and  world- 
ly Joys,  and  fix  my  Thoughts  and  Delires  on  thee 
alone,  and  on  thy  fwcet  Mercies  y  as  Holy  David 
\h\.  1 1 9.  profeifcs  of  himfelf,    /  reraembred  thine  everJaJiing 

55-  Judgments^  O  Lord^  and  rec civ'' d  Comfort. 

Shower  down  upon  me  the  fructifying  Graces  of 
thy  good  Spirit,  which  thou  wert  pkiis'd  to  re- 
prefent,    by  the  Waters   promis'd  to  be  given  to 

jf)li.  7.39.  them  that  thirft.  Let  all  my  defircs  and  endeavours 
make  up  dire6lly  to  that  blifsful  place,  whither  we 
moil  firmly  believe  thee  to  have  gone  forty  Days 
after  the  Refurreclion.  That  nothing  but  my  Body 
may  be  detained  any  longer  in  this  Valley  of  Mife- 
ry  here  below  s  but  my  Soul  and  all  its  Faculties 
may  be  with  thee.  That  where  my  beft,  my  only 
Treafure  is,  my  incomparable  bell-belov'd  Jefus  is, 

Matt.  6.    there  my  Heart  may  he  alfo.     In  the  difmal  Deluge, 

ic>.  the  wide  unfaithful  Sea  of  this  tempeiluous  Life, 

we  arc  tofs'd  and  driven  about  by  Storms  that  blow 
from  every  Quarter  5  without  Port  or  Shelter  5 
without  one  fpot   of  dry  Ground  for    the  weary 

Gtxi.2.^.  DorQQ  to  reft  her  Foot  w'^on;  no  Peace,  no  Calm, 
no  Security  j   but  Rocks  and  Quickliinds,    Wars 

z  Cor.  7.  and  Contentions,  and  Enemies  on  every  fide>  with- 

5.  out  are  fightings  and  within  are  fears. 

Thou  hail  fram'd  us  out  of  a  wonderful  mixture 
of  different  Parts,   and  join'd  Heaven  and  Earth 

W.fd.  9.  together  in  One  Man.  T^he  Earthly  Body  prcj/eth  down 

15.  the  Soul^   and  hence  the  Mind  thus  unequally  cou-^ 

pled,  is  dragged  back  by  its  Companion,  moves 
heavily  and  is  foon  tir'd  with  its  Journey,  nay,- 
often  languiihes  and  finks  down  in  the  middle  of  its 
Courfej  is  torn  and  wounded  by  the  thorny  Cares 
and  Vanities  through  which  its  way  lies ;  bruis'd 
by  the  rough nefs  of  the  PalTagej  hungry  and  hard 
beilcad,   and  often  ready  to  perilli  with  thiril,  in 

this 


MEDITATIONS. 87^ 

this  dry,  barren,  dcfolate  Wildernefs.     Nor  have  I 
wherewithal  to  fatisfy  its  cravings,    being,   alas! 
poor   and    dellitute    of     my    fpiritual    Comforts. 
Therefore  I  flee  to  thee,   my  Lord  and  God,   rich 
in  Mercies,   and  a  bountiful  Giver  of  good  Gifts  9 
imploring  Food  in  my  Neceflity,  Rcfrefhment  for 
my  Wearinefs,   Balm  for  my  Wounds,   and  Guid- 
ance for  my  Wandrings.      Behold,   m.y  Soul  Hands  '  f: 
at  the  Door  and  knocks:  O  let  that  tender  Mercy  of  Luke  r." 
my  God  J  whereby  thou  glorious  Day-fpring  from  ofii^y  79* 
bigh   hath  vifited  us^    open    to    this   impc^i'tunate     '^ 
Beggar !  Extend  thy  Charity,  and  in  a  nfarvellous 
Condefcenfion  take  him  in,   that  he  my  find  Re- 
frefhment  and  fweet  Repofe  in  thee,   knd  be  fe<S 
with   the  Bread  of    Life,   the  Bread  of  Heaven  r 
That,  thus  fuftained  and  flrengthned,  he  may  climb 
up  the  Hill,  and  mounting  on  the  Wings  of  holy 
Zeal,  may  he  conveyed  from  this  Valley  of  Tears, 
to  the  Joys  of  the  Celeftial  Kingdom. 

O  that  my  Soul  could  fly  like  an  Eagle,  bold  and 
ftrong,  without  making  any  flop,  or  perching  by 
the  way,  till  it  arrive  at  the  Beauties  of  thy  Houje^  Pfal.id.S. 
and  the  place  where  thine  Honour  dweUeth  I  That 
it  might  feed  there  at  the  fumptuous  Table  which 
thou  hail  prepared  for  the  Citizens  of  the  heaven- 
ly Jerufakm  •,  and  be  led  forth  by  its  divine  Shep-  13.2. 
herd  into  pleafant  Paflurcs,  watred  by  fruitful 
Streams-,  that  fo  this  Heart,  this  tempefl-beaten 
Heart,  might  be  brought  at  lafl  into  Harbour, 
laid  up  and  reft  fecure  in  thee,  my  God ! 

O  thou,  who  didft  command  the  Winds  and  the  Sea^  Mat.8.16, 
and  there  was  a  great  Calm^  come  down  and  walk  up-  14,  2,7. 
on  the  Waves  of  my  Heart,  that  all  its  tumultuous 
Paflions  may  be  compofed  into  a  profound  Tran- 
quillity !  that  all  may  unite  into  that  one  of  Love, 
and  that  Love  be  determined  upon  its  own  proper 
Object,  even  thee  my  Chief,  my  only  Good  j  that 
I  may  contemplate  the  delight  of  my  Eyes,  my 
dear  Lord,   clearly  and  without  interruption,   free 

G  from 


88  MEDITATIONS. 

from  the  mifts  and  dulls  of  Trouble  and  confused 
Thoughts.  Let  my  Spirit  take  Sancluary  under 
the  Shadow  of  thy  Wings,  and  there  be  protected 
from  the  fcorching  heats  of  worldly  Cares  ;  that 
lying  clofe  under  that  fliclter,  it  may  fing  fecurcly 
Pfal.  4.  9.  with  thy  holy  Plalm ill,  I  "will  lay  me  dons:n  in  peace^ 
and  take  my  reft^  for  it  is  ihou^  Lord^  only  that  7nak- 
eji  me  dwell  in  fafety. 

Yea,  let  it  take  its  reft,  my  God,  I  pray  thee, 
by  having  all  the  remembrance  of  Evils  laid  to 
fleep ;  Let  it  love  Righteoufnefs,  and  hate  Iniquity. 
For  what  can  be  more  delightful ,  more  dcfirable, 
than  in  the  darkncis  and  dillrefles  of  this  afflicted 
gloomy  Life  to  look  up  to,  and  pant  after  the 
nvcet  Enjoyment  of  God  and  Everlafting  Blifs  ? 
Than  thither  in  our  Minds  and  Affections  to  afcend, 
and  there  continually  dwell,  where  alone  true  Joys 
are  to  be  found?  O  fweeteft,  deareft,  lovelicil,  and 
moft  loving  Jefus ,  when  (hall  I  be  happy  in  the 
pral.4.2.2.  fight  of  thee?  When  jlo all  I  come  and  appear  before 
the  Prefence  of  my  God  ?  When  fhall  1  be  fealled 
with  thy  Beauty  ?  When  wilt  thou  bring  my  Soul 
out  of  this  dark  loathfom  Prifon-^  into  the  Regions 
of  Light,  that  I  may  give  thanks  unto  thy  Name, 
and  talle  the  bitter  Cup  of  Grief  no  more?  When 
fhall  I  be  tranflated  into  thy  beauteous  Palace,  and 
Pfal.  118  hear  the  -voice  of  Joy  and  Salvation  continually 
15.  foimding  in  the  dwellings  of  the  Righteous, 

P  ral.84-  4-      Blejjed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  Houfe^  O  Lord,  they 
^5*  "^^       will  be  always  praifing  thee:  Blefjed^  indeed,  is  the 
Hof  14  K  ^'^^'^t  whom  thou  choofe ft  and  receiveft  to  thy  felf^  and 
blcjfed  are  the  People  whom  thou  takefi  to  be  thy  own  In- 
heritance.  Behold  thy  holy  Owt^grow  up  before  thee  as 
Pfal.  65    ^  ^^^^>S  they  are  filled  with  the  Pleafures  of  thy  Houfe^ 
4. 36. 8,9 .  and  thou  give  ft  them  drink  out  of  thy  fulnefs :  For  thou 
art  the  Fountain  of  Life^  and  in  thy  light  they  fee  light. 
Such  Light,  that  tho'  they  are  but  a  derived  and  fe- 
condary  Light,    yet  the  bright  Beams  of  thee,  the 
Great  Originiil  Light,  arc  Ihcd  fo  plentifully  up- 
on 


MEDITATIONS.  89 

on  them,   that  by  virtue  of  this  llrong  Reflcclion 
'>i\-\Q.^  Jhim  forth  astheSun^  in  thy  Prcfcncc  and  King-  Matt.  13. 
dom.  O  ho-w  ^oodh\  how  amiable^  how  dchcious  are  the  42.. 
tabernacles  of  thy  dwellings  thou  Lord  of  Hofts  f  My  '       ^' 
Soul  longeth^  yea^  even  fainteth  for  the  Courts  of  the 
Lord  y  this  finful  heart  andflefi  crieth  out  for  the  living 
God:  It  cries  continually,  and  repeats  this  Profeffion 
again  and  again,  Lord^  L  have  loved  the  beauties  ^/i'fal.Kj.S. 
thy  Houfe^  and  the  place  where  thine  Honour  dwelleth. 

One  thing  have  I de fired  of  the  Lord^  that  will  L  feek  17.4. 
after^  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  Houfe  of  the  Lord  all  the 
days  of  my  Life .     As  the  Heart  panted  after  the  water-  4 1 .  r .  _ 
hrook^  fo  panteth  my  Soul  after  thee^  O  God.     When 
ihall  I  fee  the  hving  God,  whom  my  Soul  thirfteth 
after?  Whcn{h:i\\l  fee  him  in  the  Land  of  the  Living?  z-j.  13. 
For  in  this  Land  of  the  Dying,    where  we  now 
dwell,  no  mortal  Eye  can  fee  him.     What  Ihall  I 
do,  wretched  Man  that  I  am !    chained  down  to 
Flelli  and  Senfe,   and  dragging  after  me  a  Clog  of 
Corruption?   What  is  this  miferable  Condition  ca- 
pable of?  JVhile  we  are  at  home  in  the  Body^  we  are  1  Cor.  5. 
abfent  from  the  Lord ,  for  we  have  here  no  continuing^- 
City^   but  we  feek  one  to  co'me :    There  is  our  Settle-  ^^^'  ^^' 
ment^  and  all  our  Privilege,    the  hope  of  our  high  ^^^^^  ^  ^^^ 
Calling,   the  Bufinefs  and    the   Happinefs  of  our 
Lives,  all  in  our  Native,  in  our  Heavenly  Country. 
•    l^^oe  is  me^  that  /  have  fo  long  dwelt  in  the  I'ents  of  p  p^|_  j  2.0. 
Kcdar^and  been  conflrained  to  fojourn  among  the  Enemies  4,  5 . 
ofmyPeace.  O  that  I  had  wings  like  a  Dove^  then  would 
J  flyaway^  and  be  at  reft.     I  know  noPleafure  com- 
parable to  that  of  being  with  my  Lord.     It  is  good  ^i,  18, 
for  me  to  draw  near  to  God^  to  hold  me  fafl  by  God. 
Grant  me,    therefore,   gracious  Lord,   fo  clofe  an 
Union  with  thee,   even  while  I  am  imprifoned  in 
this  frail  Body,  as  to  make  good  the  Apoille's  Ob- 
fervation.  He  that  is  joined  to  the  Lor d^  is  one  Spirit. ,  cor.  6. 
Arm  my  Soul  with  the  Wings  of  Contemplation,  17. 
that  it  may  foar  up  to  thee  :    And,   becaufe  my 
Frailty,  without  thee,  cannot  but  fall,  fupport  my 

G  z  Soul, 


pd  MEDITATIONS. 

Soul,  that  it  fink  not  into  the  bottom  of  this  dark 
vale  of  Senfe:  Let  not  any  Interpofition  of  the 
Earth  ecUpfe  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs,  and  ob- 
ftruct  the  Influence  of  his  refrefhing  Beams ,  but 
let  his  Light  dire6b5  ^^^  ^^^  cherifhing  Heat  warm 
my  frozen  Heart,  in  my  profpe6ts  and  purfuits  of 
high  and  heavenly  Things.  For,  from  this  Inllant 
I  defire  to  bend  my  courfe  to  the  Joys  of  Eternal 
Peace,  and  leaving  the  Clouds  and  Storms  of  thefe 
lower  Regions  of  the  Air,  afpire  to  the  quiet  and 
ferene,  the  bright  and  blifsful  Manfions  of  ^the- 
rial  Light  above. 

Hold  thou  up  my  Heart  \vith  thy  mighty  Hand, 
for  without  thee  it  cannot  mount  upward:  I  ha- 
ilen  to  the  place  where  fweeteil:  and  moil  pro- 
found Peace  reigns  undifturbed :  O  do  thou  affift 
and  govern  my  Flight,  that  by  thy  guidance  I  may 
come  into  thofe  fruitful  Paftures,  where  thou  feed- 
eft  Ifrael  with  Eternal  Truth  5  that  my  Mind  may 
dwell  upon  thee,  the  Supreme  Wifdom,  who  pe- 
netrateft  and  governeft  all  Things.  ,  But  while  I 
aim  at  this  afcent  to  thee,  I  find  many  Obje6i:i- 
ons  and  Obftrucbions  to  my  defign:  Do  thou,  I 
befeech  thee,  remove  and  filence  them  all :  Com- 
mand, and  the  Tempeft  will  be  ilill :  Let  my  Soul 
poflefs  it  felf  iii  quietnefs,  and  filently  pafs  over 
all  created  Obje61:s  to  fix  on  thee :  There,  in  her 
great  Creator,  let  her  Eyes  of  F  aith,  her  Defires,  i 
her  Hopes  and  Thoughts,  immoveably  reftj  and  ^ 
no  obje(5t  ever  divert,  none  entertain  her,  but  her 
true  and   chief  Good,    her   exquifite  and  endlefs 

There  are,   indeed,   many  Contemplations,   in 

which  a  devout  Mind  feels  wonderful  Satisfa6]:ion  j 

but  never  can  it  attain  to  that  Iweet  Tranquillity 

and  Delight,   as  when  it  meditates  on  thee  alone. 

Zech.  9.  For,  O  bow  great  is  thy  Goodnefs^  and  bow  great  is  thy 

17.  Beauty  /  and  how  tranfporting  are  thofe  fecretPlea- 

fures  which  overflow  the  Hearts  of  thy  beloved, 

I  who 


MEDITATIONS. 9i_ 

who  love,  and  feek,  and  defire  to  know  nothing 
but  thee  !  Happy  are  they  who  have  no  other 
Hope  :  Happy,  whofe  conftant  Employment  is 
praying  to ,  and  converfing  with  thee  :  Happy, 
whofe  Solitude  is  fpent  in  awful  Silence,  and  hea- 
venly Raptures,  and  conftant  Watchfulnefs  over 
themfelves :  Happy,  who,  even  while  in  this  frail 
Body,  anticipate,  fo  far  as  their  Condition  will  al- 
low, the  ineffable  fweetnefs  of  their  future  Glories. 

By  thofe  life-giving  Wounds  which  thou  didil 
condefcend  for  our  Salvation  to  fuffer  on  the  Crofs, 
thofe  Wounds,  from  whence  ftreamed  forth  that 
precious  Blood  by  which  Mankind  are  redeemed 
from  Death  eternal  j  wound,  I  befeech  thee,  this 
linful  Soul  of  mine ,  for  which  thou  didfl  not  dif- 
dain  to  die  :  Strike  it  through  with  the  fiery  Dart 
of  thy  moll  fervent  Love,  which  nothing  can  refill : 
For  the  Word  of  God  is  quick  and  powerful^  andjharper  Heb.4.  i  a. 
than  any  two-edged  Sword  ^  piercing  the  Joints  and 
Marrow :  Strike  therefore,  gracious  Lord,  ftrike 
this  hard  Heart  of  mine  to  the  very  quick  5  and  let 
the  Waters  of  penitent  and  affe6i:ionate  Tears  flow 
out  in  great  abundance.  Let  me  lament  my  prefent 
Miferies  day  and  night,  and  find  no  Comfort  till  I 
am  allowed  to  behold  my  faireil  and  beft-beloved 
Spoufe,  my  Lord  and  my  God ,  in  his  heavenly 
Bed-Chamber.  That  there,  for  ever  gazing  on  thy  q^^i-j  ^^ 
beauteous  Face  with  thy  chofen,  I  may  fall  down 
and  adore  thy  Majelly  :  And ,  tranfported  with 
rapturous  and  inexpreffible  Joy ,  may  cry  out  with 
them  that  love  thee  :  Behold ,  I  fee  what  I  have 
long  defired  >  I  am  in  full  pofTeflion  of  my  Hopes  > 
I  am  infeparably  united  to  him  in  Heaven ,  whom 
upon  Earth  I  loved  with  a  moft  eager  and  impati- 
ent ,  a  moll  fincere  and  undivided  Affe6tion :  This 
is  he  whom,  my  Soul  fo  earnellly  panted  after,  he 
whom  I  v/ill  praife  andblefs,  and  moil  devoutly 
adore  5  he,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  my  God  for 
ever  and  ever.    Amen. 

G  5  CHAP, 


91  MEDITATIONS. 


L' 


CHAP.    XXXVII. 

A  Trayer  in  time  of  AjfliEiion. 

OOK  down,  O  Lord,  with  Pity  and  Com- 
pafHon  upon  a  moll  miierable  Sinner ,  doing 
the  things  he  ought  not,  and  enduring  the  things 
which  he  hath  mofl  jullly  deferved,  every  Day 
multiplying  his  Offences,  and  fmarting  daily  un- 
der thy  correcting  Rod  for  them.  When  I  reflect 
upon  my  many  and  great  Provocations ,  I  cannot 
but  confefs  my  Sufferings  light  and  gentle  in  com- 
parifon  j  and  own  they  do  by  no  means  bear  pro- 
portion to  what  I  have  incurred,  and  might  ex- 
Pfil.  Tip.  pe6l.  Righteous  art  thou^  O  Lord^  and  jnfl  are  thy 
137-  Judgments.  Yea,  juft  and  faithful  is  my  God,  and 
^^'  ^^*  there  is  no  Iniquity  in  him.  Thou  fendelt  Affliction, 
but  thou  fendeft  it  upon  Creatures  and  upon  Sin- 
ners, and  can  If  not  therefore  be  charged  with  In- 
juflice  or  Crucltv.  For  what  is  the  utmoft  we 
groan  under?  How  does  this  declare  thy  Power, 
in  comparifon  of  that  Almighty  Inlimcc  of  it, 
which  commanded  us  into  Being,  when  we  were 
not?  How  does  this  deferve  the  imputation  of 
Rigour,  when  fet  againft  that  infinite  Mercy, 
which  in  wotfderful  Pity  redeemed  and  reftored  us 
to  Happinefs  ahd  Life,  when  Sin  had  reduci4  ^-^s 
to  a  Condition  fo  loll  and  defperate,  that  even  our 
Being  was  become  a  Cuffe  to  us  ? 

I  am  abundantly  convinced ,   that  the  Events  of 

,:; ..  this  Life  are  not  left  to  the  ralli,   uncertain  hits  of 

^*  blind  Chance,   but  under  the  lleddy  Governance 

Wifd.  II.  and  wife  Difpofal  of  thy  good  Providence.  I  know 

^4-  thou  lovefl  and  takefl  care  of  all  thy  Creatures, 

^'^'  ^'^^  but  more  efpecially  thy  faithful  Servants,   who  re- 

,  pofc  all  their  Hope  and  Confidence  in  thy  Mercy, 

and  in  this  confidence  do  cheerfully  commit  them- 

fclves. 


MEDITATIONS.  93 


(elves ,  and  all  their  AfFairs  to  thee.  In  this  per- 
fiiafion  I  moll  humbly  pray  thee,  that  thou 
woiildll  deal  with  me  not  according  to  my  Sins, 
which  have  made  me  obnoxious  to  thy  angry  Ju- 
llicc,  but  after  thy  own  great  Mercy,  w^iich  far 
exceeds  not  only  mine,  but  the  whole  World's 
Offences.  And  may  it  pleafe  thee,  when  thou 
thinkcil  fit  to  fcourge  my  Outward  Man,  to 
fri-engthen  my  Inward  with  the  Grace  of  Conftan- 
cy  and  unwearied  Patience  :  That  even  in  the 
bittercil  anguiHi  of  my  Soul ,  thy  Goodnefs  may 
ilill  be  acknowledged  moft  thankfully,  and  thy 
Praiie  at  no  time  depart  out  of  my  Mouth.  Pity 
me,  O  Lord,  and  help  me,  according  to  what 
thou  feeil  necclTary  for  me  both  in  Body  and  Soul. 
Thou  knoweft  all  things,  and  canfl  do  all  things, 
and  livell  for  ever,  and  therefore  wilt,  I  hope, 
confider  my  Needs  and  my  Infirmities,  and  extend 
Mercy  and  Relief  in  thy  own  time,  and  thy  own 
;^vay,  which  is  always  furc  to  be  bed  and  moil  ex- 
pedient for  us.  . 


CHAP.    XXXVIII. 

A  devout  "Grayer  for  "^Pardon  of  Sins. 

OLord  Jefus  Chrifl:,  Son  of  the  Living  God, 
who  didll,  with  Hands  ftretched  out  upon 
the  Crofs,  fubmit  to  drink  the  bitter  Cup  of  Suf- 
ferings unconceivable,  for  the  Redemption  of  all 
Mankind,  vouchfafe  to  hear  and  help  me  this  Day: 
Behold  a  Wretch  in  extreme  Poverty,  addrefling 
to  the  endlefs  Treafure  of  thy  rich'  Mercy  !  O 
fend  me  not  away  empty  and  defpifed  !  1  come 
with  all  the  cravings  of  fpiritual  Hunger;  let  my 
Soul,  I  pray  thee,  be  filled  with  good  things  3  at 
leait  deny  mc  not  fomc  Suflenance» 

G  4  And 


94 


MEDITATIONS. 


And,    fir  ft  of  all,   my  deareft  Saviour,  I  freely 
turn  my  own  Accufer,  and  do  fo  confefs  againft  my 
felf  all  thofe  Traufgrcffions   and  Pollutions  which 
render  me  unworthy  of  the  leaft  of  thy  Mercies. 
VU\.  51.5'  Behold  I  was  Jhapen  in  Wickednefs^  and  in  Sin  did  my 
Mother  conceive  and  hare  me :  But  from  this  Defile- 
ment thou  haft  been  pleas'd  to  wafli  and  fan6tify  me. 
O  that  I  had  been  as  careful  to  prefer ve  my  Purity ! 
But  with  Shame  I  own ,   I  have  defiled  my  felf  a- 
new  with  more  and  greater,   and  more  inexcufable 
Sins.     Thofe  I  was  born  in,   I  could  not  prevent  j 
they  were  not  my  fault  fo  much  as  my  misfortune  > 
but  the  Filth  I  have  wallowed  in  fince,  was  entire- 
ly of  my  own  choice  and  contracting,    and   the 
.  Tranfgreftions  I  am  moft  concerned  for,   have  been 
in  the  ftri6teft  fcnfe  my  proper  Ad  and  Deed. 

Nay,   to  add  yet  more  to  my  Confufion,  I  can- 
not but  call  to  mmd  the  great  advantages  of  doing 
better,  which  thou,  according  to  thy  wonted  Mer- 
cy,  has  been  pleafed  to  afford  me.     Thou  haft  fe- 
parated  me  from  the  converfation  of  Sinners,   and 
put  into  my  Heart  good  Refolutions   of  avoiding 
their  Seducements,  and  following  thee  \    of  aflem- 
bhng  with  the  Generation  of  them  that  feck  thy 
Face,  and  walk  in  the  paths  of  Righteoufnefs  >    of 
abandoning  a  fenfual,    and  devoting  my  felf  to  a 
mortified   and   fpiritual   and  divine  Life.     And  I, 
infenfible  and  ungrateful  Wretch  that  I  am !   in  re- 
turn for  fuch  ineftimable  Benefits,  have,  even  fince 
my  entrance  upon  this  better  courfe,   done  many 
and  grievous  things  againft  thy  holy  Laws,  and  my 
own  good  Intentions!    Tnftead  of  amending   and 
forfaking  my  Sins,    I  have  added  greatly  to  their 
number.     Thus  have  I  difhonour'd  my  God,   and 
ftained  and  defaced  that  Image  of  his  in  which  I 
was  created,  with  Pride  and  Vain-glory,  and  many 
other  natural  Deformities,    with  the  difmal  prof- 
pecb  of  which  my  poor  Soul  is  tormented  and  af- 
Aided,  wounded  and  deftroyed. 

Behold, 


MEDITATIONS. 95_ 

Behold,  OLord,  my  Wickedneffes  are  gone  overmy^:2i\,-^%,j^, 
Head^  and  are  become  like  a  fore  burden^  too  heavy  for 
me  to  bear.    And  unlefs  thou,  whofe  Property  is  always 
to  fpare^  and  to  have  Mercy ^  be  pleas'd  to  put  forth 
thy  Hand,  and  fupport  me  ^from  finking,  I  fhall  be 
irrecoverably  loft,   and  fwallow'd  up  in  the  great 
Deep.     Hearken,  O  Lord,  to  my  cry^  look  down 
and  behold  my  Mifery,    how  proudly  the  Adver- 
fary  of  Souls  infults  agamft  me,   faying,    God  hath  ^ii,  n.  & 
forfaken  him^  Iwill  purfuehim^  and  take  him^  for  there  6,  3,  4. 
is  none  to  deliver  him.     But  thou^  O  Lord^  how  long 
wilt  thou  forget  me?  I'urn^  I  befeechthee^  and  deliver 
my  Soid'y    O  fave  me  for  thy  Mercies  fake.     Have 
Compafiion  on  thy  Child,    whom  thou  haft  made 
fuch,   at  the  expence  of  infinite  Travail  and  Pain, 
and  do  not  fo  far  remember  my  Wickednefs,   as  to 
forget  thy  own  Goodnefs.  What  Father  is  he,  that 
will  refufe  to  refcue  his  Son  from  Deftruction  ?  Or, 
what  Son  is  he  who  never  offends,   and  whom  the 
mo  ft  affe6tionate  Parent  chaftcneth  not  with  the 
Rod  of  his  Love  ? 

Confider  thereibre,  O  my  Lord  and  Father,  that 
tho'  I  am  a  Sinner,    I  am  ftill  thy  Soul,    I  cannot 
ceafe  to  be  fo  by  a  double  Title ,   for  thou  art  the 
Author  and  Giver,   not  only  of  my  firft  and  Natu- 
ral,   but  of  my  fecond,    my  fpiritual   and  better 
Life.   Since  therefore  I  have  finned,   corre6l  me  as 
thou  feeft  expedient  j    but  when  thy  Corre6t:ions 
have  reform'd  me,  deliver  me  up  to  thy  Son.    Can  irA,49.i). 
'   a  Mother  forget  the  fruit  of  her  Womb  ?  Nay,  tho' 
fhe  fiiould  forget,  yet  thou,  our  kinder  Father,  haft 
declar'd,   that  thou  wilt  not  forget  thy  Children. 
Behold  I  cry,   and  thou  hearkeneft  not ,    I  am  tor- 
mented, and  thou  comforteft  me  not.     What  ftiall 
I  do,  or  to  whom  fliall  I  betake  my  felf,  when  dc- 
ftitute  of  my  only  fupport,    and  caft  out  of  the 
fight  of  thine  Eyes?   O  wretched  Creature!    how 
great  is  the  Happinefs  from  which,    hov/  great  the 
.  Klifery  into  which  I  am  Men !    Whither  was  I 

goings       ' 


96  MEDITATIONS. 


going,  and  whither  am  I  at  laft  come?  Where  am 
I,  -^nd  where  am  I  not?    What  Bills  was  I  making 
up  to,    and  \vhat  Horrors  do  I  groan  under  ?    1 
aim'd  at  Peace  and  Joy,    but   behold    Perplexity 
and  Mifery !    I  die,   and  my  Jcllis  is  not  with  me  j 
and  fure  better  it  were  for  me  not  to   be  at  all, 
than  to  be  without  myjefusj   better  not  to  hve, 
thim  to  Hve  without  him,   who  is  the  very  Life  of 
my  Life. 
pfal.  26.        But,  O  mydcivcrijcfusjwhejrare  thy  tender  Mer- 
6.  &103.  cies^  and  thy  loving  Klndneffes-ivhich  have  been  ever  of 
9'Ti'l-  old?  IVill  the  Lord  keep  his  Anger  for  ever^  and  vjill 
he  be  no  more  entreated  ?     Be  favoui'able ,    I  befeech 
thee,   and  turn  not  now  aw^ay  thy  Face  from  him, 
for  whofe  Redemption  thou  did  it  not  turn  it  away 
lix.  50. 6.  heretofore,  fro?n  JJmme  and  fpiting.     I  confcfs,  O 
Lord,    that  I  am  a  Sinner,   a  Cfrcat  and  Q:rievous 
Smner;    My  Confcience  reproaches  me  with  Guilt 
continually,   and  fets  before  mine  Eyes  that  Hell 
and  Damnation,    which,  I  am  iadly  fenlible,    are 
the  defcrv'd  Wages  of  my  evil  doings.     I  know 
too  no  Remorfe,  no  Repentance  of  mine  can  be  a 
fufficient  Satisfaction  to  thy  offended  Juilicc  ^    and 
'  therefore  I  take  Sanctuary  in  thy  Mercy  alone  >  that 

Mercy  which  can  never  be  over-power'd  by  any 
Greatnefs,    any  number  of  offences.     Do  not,    I 
befeech  thee,    moft  merciful  Lord,    ftill  write  bit- 
Pa  143.   ^^^  things  againfc  me,    nor  enter  into  Judgment  with 
'L.'^'^i.i.thy  ServaMt^  but,  accm'd'ng  to  the  multitude  of  thy 
Mercies  blot  out  all  my  Offeaccs.  O  what  will  become 
)  x:i' I    }      oPme  at  that  dreadful  Diy,    when   the  Books  of 
I      all  Confciences  ihall  be  laid  open,   and  the  Judge 
ihall  fiy  of  me,  "fhis  is  the  Man^    and  thefe  are  his 
IForks!    What  fhall  I  do,  or  whither  fhall  I  flee, 
when  the  Heavens  fhall  declare  my  Unrightcouf- 
nefs,  and  the  Earth  lliall  rife  up  againlt,    and  open 
her  Mouth  upon  me  ?   Alas !    I  ihall  not  have  one 
Word  to  alledge  in  my  own  Vindication  or  Ex- 
cufe,   no  Pica  to  make  in  Bar  to  Sentence  pafling 

upon 


MEDITATIONS.  ^7 


upon  me>  but  with  a  guilty  and  dejected  Counte- 
nance, (land  trembling  and  amaz'd  before  thy  Judg- 
ment-Seat. 

O  Mifery,  Mifery!  What  fhall  I  %?  I  will  cry 
unto  thee,  my  Lord  and  God  5  for  why  fliould  I 
periili,  and  languifh  away  in  filencc?  and  yet  if  I 
Ipeak  5  my  Pains  will  not  be  afl  wag'd  j  and  if  I 
hold  my  Peace,  I  am  wrack'd  with  lecret  anguifli. 
Mourn,  my  Soul,  mourn  and  weep,  like  a  difcon- 
folate  Widow,  over  the  Hufband  of  thy  Youth. 
Howl,  WTCtched  thing,  and  lament,  becaufe  thy 
Spoufe,  thy  Chriif,  hath  divorc'd  thee  in  his  dif- 
pieafure.  Nay,  but,  O  mighty  Avenger,  do  not 
let  loofe  thine  Indignation  upon  me;  for  it  is  not 
in  the  Nature  of  a  Mortal  to  fuflain  the  Powder  of 
thy  Wrath.  Have  Mercy,  left  I  link  in  utter  de- 
fpair  5  and,  when  my  guilty  Reflections  deje6t  me 
molt,  let  me  find  fome  refrelTiing  glance  of  Hope, 
that  I  be  not  quite  fwallow'd  up  in  Guilt  and  Con- 
fufion.  'Tis  true,  I  have  loft  that  Innocence  which 
fhould  preferve  me,  and  given  thee  juft  reafon  to 
damn  me  ^  but  thou  haft  not,  canft  not  have  loft 
that  Property,  which  is  us'd  to  prevail  for  the  Sal- 
vation of  thofe  who  have  dcferv'd  Damnation. 

Thou^  O  Lord^  wUkli  not  the  death  of  a  Sinner^  nel-  ^-itV  ;  8, 
ther  haft  thou  any  -pie  a  fare  in  the  deftrvMion  of  him  that  13 ,  31. 
dieth  •,  fo  fir  from  that,  that  thou  thy  felf  haft  dy'd 
to   the   intent   that   they  who    before   were  dead 
might  live.  Thy  death  hath  kill'd  the  death  of  Sin-  2  Cor.  5. 
ners,  and  from  that  inftant  thou  diedft,    their  Life  ^5- 
commenc'd.     Since  therefore  our  living  depended 
upon  thy  dying,  fuffer  me  not,  1  befecch  thee,   to 
die,  now  thou  art  reftor'd  to  Life  for  evermore  5 
but  if  thy  death  reconcil'd  me,    much  more  let  thy 
Life  fave  me.    Send  down  thy  hand  fro?n  above ^  and  Kom  5, 
deliver  me  from  the  hand  of  mine  Enemies^   let  them  ^O'  U' 
not  triumph  over  ?ne^  Tie  it  her  let  than  fay^  We  have  '  '^^'  ^'^^' 
devoufd  him,  7 .  3  S  •  2. 5 . 


Who, 


98  MEDITATIONS. 


Who,  blelTcd  Jefus,  who  can  ever  fuffer  himfelf 
to  diftruft  thy  Mercy  and  Goodnefs ,  after  having 
reconcil'd  us  to  God,  and  ranfom'd  us  from  Hell 
and  Death,  with  thy  own  deareft  Blood,  even  when 

Rom.  5.  we  were  Rebels  and  declar'd  Enemies?   Under  the 

^>  9'  fheltea  of  this  Mercy  I  dare  approach  the  Throne 
of  Grace  j  and  thus  protefted  and  encdurag'd ,  I 
run,  I  call,  I  cry  for  Pardon,  and  knock  importu- 
nately, inceflantly ,  till  thou  open,  and  take  pity 
upon  me.  For  if  thou  didft  of  thy  own  mere 
Motion  call  us  to  a  Pardon  which  we  never  fought, 
"  how  fhall  we  not  much  rather  obtain  a  Pardon  upon 
our  own  Requeft,  and  that  Requeft  grounded  upon 
Encouragements,  and  Commands,  and  Promifes, 
which  thou  thy  felf  haft  given  us  ? 

Look  not  upon  me  therefore ,  fweeteft  Saviour, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  Sinner,  which  would  awaken 
thy  Juftice  •,  but  confider  me  as  thy  Creature,  and 
let  that  foften  and  enlarge  the  Bowels  of  thy  Mer- 
cy. Remember  not  thine  Anger,  to  which  Guilt 
hath  made  me  obnoxious,  but  remember  thy  never- 
failing  Compailions,  of  which  my  Mifery  renders 
me  a  fit  obje6b.  Overlook  my  Pride,  which  incen- 
fed  thee,  and  obferve  my  Humility  and  Affliction, 
which  implores  thee.  And  what  indeed  is  Jefus 
but  a  Saviour  ?  By  the  importance  of  thy  blelled 
Name,  and  by  all  that  Goodnefs  which  fo  fully  an- 
fwer'd  its  moll:  extenfive  fignification,  arife,  I  con- 

Pfal  35.3.  jure  thee,  to  help  me^  and  fay  to  my  "^oox  So  ul^  I  am 
thy  Salvation.  I  entertain  very  aflur'd  Expectations 
of  thy  Bounty,    becaufe  thou  haft  taught  me  to 

Matty.  7  ajk^  ^ndfeek^  and  knock:  And  therefore  what  I  do 
is  not  an  a6t  of  bold  and  rafh  Prefumption ,  but  of 
becoming  Truft  and  faithful  Obedience. 

Thou  therefore.  Lord,  who  commandeft  me  to 

ajk^  grant  that  I  may  receive  -,    thou  haft  put  me 

'  xx^onfeeking^  let  me  be  happy  m  finding -^  thou  haft 

bidden  me  knock^  open  when  I  do  fo  j    ftrengthen  a 

weak  J    reftoie  a  loft,    raife   and   quicken  a  dead 

'       Wretch  i. 


MEDITATIONS. 99. 

Wretch  j  and  be  gracioufly  pleas'd  to  direct  and 
govern  my  (everal  Faculties,  Senfes,  Thoughts  and 
Actions,  in  doing  that  which  is  well-pleafing  in  thy 
Sight:  That,  for  the  future,  I  mayfcrve  thee,  live 
to  thee,  and  entirely  devote  my  felf  to  the  Obe- 
dience of  thee.  I  know,  O  Lord,  the  whole  of 
what  I  am  is  thy  due,  as  my  Creator  >  I  am  fenfible 
that  more  than  I  am  is  thy  due,  as  my  Redeemer. 
And,  had  I  it,  I  fhould  owe  thee  as  much  more  than 
I  am,  as  thou,  who  gaveft  thy  felf  to  be  Man  for 
my  fake,  art  greater  than  the  Man  for  whom  thou 
weit  given.  But  this  poor  y^i^  is  all  I  have  to  offer 
in  return,  and  even  this  I  could  not  offer  without  ' 
thee:  Accept  me  therefore,  I  befeech  thee,  and 
draw  me  to  thy  felf,  that  I  may  from  henceforth 
be  thine  by  Imitation  and  Refemblance,  by  Obe- 
dience and  Love,  who  am  already  all  thy  Own,  as 
thy  Creature,  and  thy  Purchafe.  Even  thine,  O 
fweetefl:  Saviour,  who  liveft  and  reignefl  for  Ever 
and  Ever,  Amen, 


CHAP.    XXXIX. 

A  Ufefiil  Trayer, 

OLord  God  Almighty,  Three  Perfons,  and 
One  Subilance,  Eternal  and  Omniprefent, 
before  all,  and  in  all,  God  bleffed  for  ever  ^  I  con- 
fecrate  to  thy  ufe, .  and  commit  into  thy  cuftody, 
this  Day,  and  for  my  whole  Life,  my  Body  and  my 
Soul,  my  Sight  and  Hearing,  my  Tafle,  Touch, 
and  Smelling  >  all  my  Thoughts  and  Affedions  j 
my  Words  and  Actions  j  all  without,  and  all  with- 
in me  ',  my  Senfitive  and  Intellectual  Faculties, 
my  Imagination  and  Memory ,  my  Faith  and  my 
Perfeverance  •,  befceching  thee  in  Mercy  to  take 
charge  of  them  dav  and  night,  and  guard  thera 

fafe 


ICO  MEDITATIONS. 


{life  from  all  the  Diingers  and  Temptations  which 
bcfct  me,  and  attempt  to  enter  at  thcle  Avenues 
every  hour  and  moment.  Hear  me,  O  blefled  Holy 
Trinity,  and  preferve  me  from  all  Evil,  and  all 
Scandal,  and  clpecially  from  all  deadly  Sin.  Pro- 
tect mc  from  the  fubtle  Treachery,  and  violent 
Ailaults,  and  perpetual  Hollilities  of  evil  Spirits, 
and  fhield  mc  from  the  Malice  of  all  my  Enemies, 
vifible  and  inviliblcj  and,  under  thy  mighty  Pro- 
teciiion,  conducl:  me  fafe  at  lail  to  thofe  blifsful 
Manfions,  which  thou  haft  prepar'd  for  them  that 
love  thee,  inhabited  by  Patriarchs  and  Prophets, 
Apoftles  and  Martyrs  ,  Confellbrs  and  Virgins  , 
and  all  the  Holy  Men  and  Women  who  have 
walk'd  in  thy  Fear,  and  done  the  Will  of  their 
Heavenly  Father  faithfully  from  the  beginning  of 
the  World. 

Root  out  from  me,  I  pray  thee ,  all  confident 
Boalting,  Spiritual  Pride,  Arrogance  and  Haughti- 
nefs  of  Spirit,  and  beat  down  my  Soul  with  true 
Compunction  for  my  Sins ,  and  a  profound  unaf- 
fected Humility.  Open  a  vent  for  the  Tears  of 
Repentance  3  and,  when  thou  halt  foften'd  this 
rock  within  my  Breaft,   let  thofe  itreams  gufh  out 

Pfa'.p.  1 3.  abundantly.  Delis^er  me,  O  Lord,  from  the  y^^r^ 
of  the  hunter ,  and  give  not  my  Soul  up  a  prey  to 
them  that  feck  its  ruin,  but  keep  me  ever  fafe  and 
ftedflilt  in  the  Performance  of  thy  Will.    "Teach  ?ne 

143.  10.  to  do  the  thing  that  pkafeth  thee ^  for  thou  art  my  God. 
Give  me  a  right  Judgment ,  and  a  perfe6t  Under- 
ftanding  of  divine  Truths,  that  I  may  have  wor- 
thy Apprehenfions  of  thy  unmeafurable  Goodnefs. 
Dire6t  my  Prayers  to  thee  on  all  Occafions ,  and 
let  me  afk  fuch  things  as  thou  delighteft  to  give, 
and  are  belt  for  me  to  receive.  Kindle  in  my 
Heart  a  holy  Zeal,  fuch  as  may  incline  thy  Mercy 
effectually  to  blot  out  the  remembrance  of  all  my 
pall  Offences  committed  againft  thy  divine  Majelty. 

Dan.9.19. 0  Lord^  hear  y  O  Lord  hearken  and  do  5  Defer  not  for 

thy 


MEDITATIONS.  loi 

thy  o-d;n  fake^  O  my  God.  If  thou  rejected;  my  Peti- 
tions, wnd  turncfl;  away  thy  Face^  Idle  \  if  thou  fhew- 
cft  the  Hght  of  thy  Countenance,  I  am  rene'vfd  to  p(^^|.  104. 
Life.  It  thou  regard  my  Rightcoufnefs  only,  this,  ip,  30. 
aliis !  is  no  better  than  filth  and  pollution ,  and  I 
iliall  be  on  thy  account  no  better  than  a  loathfome 
Carcafe.  But  if  thou  look  upon  me  in  thy  Mercy, 
this  raifes  my  dead  putrify'd  Body  from  the  Grave 
of  Sin,  and  breaths  into  me  again  a  Life  of  Righ- 
tcoufnefs and  Hope.  Remove  fir  from  me  what- 
ever is  odious  and  ofTenfive  to  thy  pure  Eyes,  and 
plant  in  me  a  Spirit  of  Charity  and  Cleannefs,  that 
I  may  lift  up  holy  Hands  in  Prayer  ^  and  not  bring 
fuch  a  Sacrifice  as  is  an  abomination  to  my  God. 
Put  away  from  me  all  hurtful  things,  and  give  me  r  Tim.  2. 
fuch  things  as  be  profitable  for  me.  O  thou  blef-  8. 
fed  Phyfician  of  Souls,  grant  me  Balm  for  my 
Wounds,  and  proper  Medicines  to  heal  my  Spiri- 
tual Difeafes.  PofTels  my  Heart  with  thy  Fear, 
with  Meeknefs  and  Reverence,  grant  me  unfeigned 
Faith,  a  clean  Confcience,  and  a  true  Charity,  a 
tender  regard  to  the  good  of  my  Brethren  j  let  mc 
never  fiivour  or  forget  my  own  Mifcarriages,  nor 
€ver  be  inquifitive  after,  or  fevere  upon,  the  Faults 
or  Failings  of  other  People. 

-  O  be  gracious  and  compafTionate  to  my  poor 
Soul,  to  my  Frailties  and  Tranfgreilions.  Vifit  mc 
in  my  Weaknefs,  heal  my  Sickncfs,  refrefli  my  lan- 
guilhings,  and  revive  me  from  Spiritual  death.  Of 
that  there  were  in  me  a  Heart  that  might  always 
fear  thee,  a  Soul  that  might  always  love  thee,  an 
Underitanding  that  might  rightly  apprehend  and 
conceive  worthily  of  thee ;  Ears  ever  open  to  hear 
thee  5  Eyes  ever  fixt  and  intent  to  fee  thee.  Have 
pity  upon  me,  O  my  God,  have  pity  upon  me  j  and 
from  the  Throne  of  thy  Majeftyon  high  call  down 
a  companionate  Look-,  fcatter  the  thick^vght  of  Ig- 
norance and  Error,  and  enlighten  my  dark' Soul  with 
the  bright  Beams  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  G'i\(:  m.e  the 

Know- 


loi  MEDITATIONS. 

Knowledge  of  difcerning  between  Good  and  Evil  5 
and  help  me  to  keep  a  conftant  watchful  guard  over 
my  felf  j  that  I  may  fee  the  things  which  belong  un- 
to my  Peace^  and  carefully  efchew  all  thofe  Seduce- 
ments,    that  would   betray  me  into  irrecoverable 
Ruin.     Above  all,  I  beg  free  and  full  Remiffion  of 
my  manifold  and  grievous  Sins,  of  thee,  my  Lord, 
who  dy'dll;  to  purchafe  it  5    and  that,  by  and  thro' 
thee  I  may  find  effe6tual  Propitiation,  and  Com- 
fort, and  Mercy,  in  all  time  of  my  "Tribulation^  and  an- 
guifh  of  Heart,   in  all  my  necellities  and  diftrefTes, 
but  efpecially  in  the  Hour  of  Death^  and  in  the  Day 
of  Judgment.     Finally,  O  Lord,  vouchfafe  to  be- 
fiow  on  me  Everlafting  Life,  not  for  any  Works 
which  I  have  done,  (let  them  be  pardon'd  only,  and 
that  is  fufficient,    reward  they  cannot  deferve)  but 
for  thy  manifold  and  great  Mercy,    upon  which  I 
throw  my  felf  entirely,   as  the  only  Refuge  and 
Hope  of  Sinners  and  unprofitable  Servants. 
,'  And  now,  O  Lord  Jefus  Chrill:,  permit,  I  pray 

thee,   thy  unworthy  Servant  to  exprefs  his  Chari- 
ty, by  enlarging  thefe  Petitions,   and  let  them  pre- 
vail tor  Blellings  not  only  on  my  felf,  but  others. 
Grant  to  all  Princes   and  Governours,    that  they 
•     may  rule  thy  People  in  Juftice  and  thy  Fear  ^  and 
eflablilh  the  Thrones  of  them  that  do  fo  in  Righ- 
teoufnefs  and  Peace.      Infpire  thy  Minifters   with 
Truth  and  Zeal,   that  they  may  agree  in  a  right 
Underftanding  of  thy  holy  Word,   and  diligently 
and  unanimouily  profecute  their  great  Work ,    by 
fecting  forth  thy  Glory,   and  fetting  forward  the 
Salvation  of  all   Men.     Let  thy  Favour  be  ever 
prefent   with    thy  Holy  Catholick  Church ,    and 
every  Member  of  it.   Men  and  Women,   Priefts 
and  People,   all  that  believe  in  thee,   all  that  la- 
bour in  thy  Love  j    encreafe   their  Graces  daily, 
and  enable  them  faithfully    to   improve   and   per- 
feverc  in  every  good  Word  and  Work.     Aflift  all 
thy  Servants  with  fuch  kinds  and  degrees  of  thy 

Grace, 


MEDITATIONS.  103 


grace,  as  are  fuitable  to  their  rerpe<5i:ive  Conditi- 
ons. Infpire  all  Virgins  with  Chaftity  arid  Mode- 
fty,  all  Perfons  devoted  to  thy  Service  with  Hea- 
venly-mindednefs  and  Purity,  all  married  Pairs 
with  Fidelity  and  mutual  Love.  To  all  repenting 
Sinners  grant  Pardon  and  Confolation ;  to  all  Wi- 
dows and  Orphans,  Sufteriance  and  Relief  j  to  the 
helplefs  and  oppreiled,  Prote6tion  and  Jufticej  to 
all  Travellers,  a  fafe  Return  home  j  to  all  in  Sor- 
row and  Trouble,  Patience  and  Comfort  >  to  all 
who  arc  at  Sea,  their  defir'd  Port^  and  to  every 
one  tofs'd  on  the  Waves  of  this  troublefome  World,- 
the  Haven  of  Salvation,  and  the  Land  of  everlaft- 
ing  Life.  Enable  thofe  that  are  ftrong,  to  ftand^ 
help  them  that  are  growing  in  Goodnefs,  to  profpet 
and  improve  daily  more  and  more  >  and  to  all  that 
live  in  Sin,  to  wretched  Me  in  particular,  give  the 
Grace  of  fpeedy  recollection,  and  effe(Etual  amend-  j 
mcnt. 

For,  O  fweeteft  and  ntoft  merciful  Jefus,  Son 
of  the  Living  God,  and  Saviour  of  the  World !  I 
acknowledge  my  felf  a  moil  unworthy,  moil  mi- 
ferable  Sinner  j  but  Thou,  O  Father  of  Mercies, 
who  hail  Compailion  upon  all,  wilt  riot  fuffer  me 
to  perifh,  nor  cail  me  utterly  out  of  thy  fight: 
Had  that  been  thy  intention,  thou  woulail  have 
cut  me  off  in  the  midil  of  my  wickednefs,  and  not 
have  allow'd  me  fpace  or  difpofition  to  repent. 
Since  therefore,  thou  art  pleas'd  flill  to  forbear  pu- 
nifhment,  and  to  grant  me  a  Truce ,  give  me  a 
Heart,'  as  thou  hail  given  me  Opportunities,  to 
make  my  Peace  with  thee.  Lifluence  my  Mind 
powerfully,  that  I  may  feek,  and  deiire,  and  love 
thee  above  all  things,  and  fear  above  all  to  offend 
thee,  and  be  careful  conilantly  to  pleafe  thee. 

Lailly,  O  God,  and  Father,  Bleiled  for  ever,  I 
entreat  thee  for  all  them  who  make  charitable 
mention  of  me  in  their  Prayers,  and  all  who  have 
defir'd  to  be  recommended  to  thy  Favour,  in  tboic 

H  0€ 


I04  MEDITATIONS. 

of  the  lend;  and  moil:  unworthy  of  thy  Servants: 
For  all  who  have  done  me  any  good  Offices,  or 
are  in  any  degree  related  to  me,  that  thou  wouldft 
hear  Them  for  Me,  and  Me  for  Them;  and  ac- 
cording to  thy  bounteous  Mercy,  prcferve  and 
gwern  them,  and  return  all  their  Kindnefs  and 
Charity  feventbld  into  their  Boibm.  That  thou 
wouldil  impart  liberally  to  all,  who  are  yet  engag'd 
in  their  Chriilian  Warfare,  the  Succours  of  thy 
Grace;  and,  in  thy  own  good  time,  to  all  who 
have  happily  finifh'd  their  Courfe,  the  Confumma- 
tion  of  Reward  and  Glory.  And,  O  thou  who 
art  Alpha  and  Omega^  the  beginning  and  end^  once 
more  I  repeat  that  moil  important  Requeft,  that, 
when  the  time  appointed  for  my  great  change  iliall 
come,  thou  wilt  in  mercy  (land  by  me  at  my  lail 
Hours  J  llrcngthen  me  in  my  great  Conflict,  fup- 
port  me  in  my  dying  Agonies,  pluck  me  out  of  the 
Jaws  of  the  ravening  Wolf,  who  will  then  ftand 
ready  to  feize  and  devour  me;  defend  me  from  his 
Terrors  and  Accufations,  and  take  me -for  thy  own: 
So  Ihall  I  be  receiv'd  into  the  blclTed  Company  of 
Saints  and  Angels,  in  thy  heavenly  Paradife,  there 
to  rejoice,  and  live,  and  reign  with  thee  for  ever, 
who  art  over  all  God  blelTed  forever.  Amen^  Iwcet 
Jefus,  Amen. 


CHAP.     XL. 

devout  Reflexions  up  on  the  Sufferings  of  Chrijt, 

OLord  Jefus  Chrift,  who  art  made  unto  me  of 
God^  Redemption,  and  Mercy,  and  Salva- 
tion! I  praife  thee,  I  blefs  thee,  I  render  Thanks  to 
thee,  but  Thanks  that  do  by  no  means  bear  pro- 
portion to  the  ineftimable  Benefits  for  which  they 
are  due ;  Thanks  wretchedly  defeSiive  in  their  zeal 
and  devotion,  which  ought  to   warm  this  frozen 

Heart 


MEDITATIONS.  loj 

Heart  of  mine  upon  every  remembrance  of  thee : 
Not  fuch  as  I  am  fendble  1  owe,  but  yet  the  beft 
iry  Soul  can  with  its  utmoft  efforts  reach  up  to. 
Thou  Hope  of  my  Heart,  and  Strength  of  my 
Soul,  let  thy  Power  fupply  what  my  Weaknefs 
cannot  attain  to  j  thy  fervent  Love  make  up  for 
my  lukewarm  Affc6i:ion:  For  tho'  I  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  love  thee  fo  much  as  I  ought,  yet, 
if  Sincerity  can  be  accepted  inftead  of  Perfection, 
my  Confcience  fupports  me  with  this  Teftimony, 
that  I  delire  hov/ever,  and  wilh  with  all  my  Soul 
that  I  were  able  to  love  thee  as  much  as  I  ought 
to  do. 

O  Light  fhed  from  above  into  my  Soul,  from 
whom  no  Secrets  are  hid !  Thou  feeft  my  inward 
Parts,  and  art  confcious  to  all  my  Defires.  If  any 
Good  be  there,  'tis  of  thy  infpiring  j  if  this  of  lo- 
ving thee  be  (nay,  becaufe  I  am  lure  it  is)  good, 
and  from  thee,  enable  me  to  perform  that  which 
thou  haft  made  me  to  delire,  and  grant  that  I  may 
love  thee  to  a  degree  as  exalted  as  thou  requireft. 
I  offer  to  thee  Thanks  and  Praifes  j  Let  not  that 
Gift  be  barren,  and  produce  no  worthy  Fruit  in 
me,  which  thou  haft  of  thy  own  free  Grace  com- 
municated 5  but  crown  and  perfc6l  thine  own 
Work  :  And  as  thy  Goodnefs  firft  prevented  me 
with  holy  Defires,  mov'd  by  no  Deferts  of  mine, 
fo,  I  beicech  thee,  continue  the  fame  Grace,  in 
granting  thofe  Deiires  their  juft  accomplifhment : 
Awaken  my  ftupidity,  quicken  my  deadnefs,  and 
change  my  cold  indifterence  into  a  moft  fenftble 
and  fervent  zeal  •,  for  this  is  the  aim  and  end  of  all 
my  Prayers,  this  is  the  proper  effect  of  all  my 
Reflections  upon  Thee  and  all  thy  Benefits,  that 
the  more  I  converfe  with  thee,  and  the  oftener  I 
remember  thee,  the  more  vehemently  I  may  love 
thee. 

It  was  thy  Goodnefs,  O  Lord,  that  created  me 

at   iirft  :     It  was  thy  Mercy  that,   when  I  was 

I  Hi  created, 


io6  MEDITATIONS. 

created,   cleans'd   me   from  the  llain  of  Oiiginal 
Sin :    It  was  thy  Power  which  preferv'd  me  after 
the  Sanctification  of  Baptifm  :    It  was  thy  Cle- 
mency,  thy  Bounty,   thy  Long-fuffering,  which, 
notwithftanding    my   numberlels   actual    Provoca- 
tions (ince,   hath  forborn,   fuflain'd,   and  waited 
for  my  amendment.     Thou,   Lord,   haft  long  ex- 
pe6bed  the  return  of  thy  Prodigal  Child  ^  and  I, 
but  not,   alas  !    with  equal  carefulnefs",   wait  for 
the  infpiration  of  thy  Grace,   to  work  in  me  Re- 
pentance and  Holinefs  of  Life.     My  God,  my  Ma- 
ker, thou  that  fpareft  me,  thou  that  fuftaineft  me, 
I  hunger  and  thirft  after  thee,  I  gafp  for  and  pant 
;      after  thee  >   and  as  a  darling,  but  a  defolate  Child, 
i      debarr'd  of  his  moft  indulgent  Father's  prefcnce, 
weeps  and  laments  incefTantly,  and  thinks  of,  and 
longs  for  nothing  but  his  beloved  Company,  and 
'    wears   the  Image   of  his  Face  perpetually  in  his 
Heart  5   fo  I  am  mov'd  by  the  tendereft  Impreili"^ 
ons,   and  with  an  eager  Impatience  lament  my  di- 
flance  from  thee.      I  often  think  upon,   and  am 
veiy  fenfibly  affefted,   tho'  not  fo  fenfibly  as  I  wiih 
and  ought  to  be,  with  thy  Sorrows  and  Sufferings, 
thy  Buffetings  and  Scourges,   thy  Reproaches  and 
Revihngs ,    thy  Wounds  and   expiring  Agonies  ; 
how  thou  weit  kill'd  and  crucified,  how  thou  wert 
embalm'd  and  buried,   and  withal,   how  glorioufly 
thou  didft  rife  again,  and  how  triumphantly  afcen^^ 
ded  up  into  Heaven  >   and  all  this  for  me,   finful 
Man,  and  for  my  Salvation.   Thefe  things  I  believe 
with  a  moft  ftedfift  Faith  j  and  in  vertue  of  that 
Perfuafion  I  bewail  the  Miferies  of  my  Pilgrimage 
and  Exile  from  thee ;    I  propofe  no  other  Comfort 
to  my  felf,  comparable  to  that  of  my  Lord's  return 
to  me,  and  do  moft  ardently  defire,  as  the  fum  and 
fource  of  all  my  Happinels,  to  fee  thy  bounteous 
Face  for  ever  in  thy  Glory. 

Say,  my  Soul,  if  thou  canft,  ho^v  thou  fhould'ft 
have  been  affcfted,  hadft  thou  feen  this  Lord  in 

Perfon  > 


MEDITATIONS.  107 

Perfon^  feen  the  King  of  Angels  emptying  him- 
felf  of  Majefty,  and  condefcending  to  converie 
with  Men,  that  Men  might  be  exalted  to  live  and 
converfe  with  Angels  ,  leen  thy  offended  GOD 
die,  to  reconcile  vile  Offenders  to  himfelf,  and 
{b  prevent  their  everlafting  Death.  O  what  Ex- 
preflions,  what  Conceptions,  what  Wonder  can 
be  great  enough  for  this  unparallePd,  this  amaz- 
ing Love  and  Goodnefs !  But  draw  a  little  nearer 
yet,  my  Soul,  and  take  a  more  diftin6t  view  of 
this  Tragical,  this  Allonifhing  Scene.  Could'ft 
thou  have  feen  thy  deareft  Saviour's  Side  pierc'd 
with  a  Spear,  and  would  not  the  fime  Weapon 
have  pierc'd  thro'  thy  own  Heart  alfo  ?  Could'ft 
thou  have  flood  by  and  beheld  the  Hand?  and  Feet 
of  him  that  created  thee  torn  with  Nails,  and  fafl- 
ned  to  the  Crofs,  and  the  Blood  which  redeem'd 
thee  gufhing  out  in  Streams,  and  not  have  funk  thy 
felf ,  and  even  expir'd ,  with  grief  and  horror  at 
the  fight? 

Say  then  withal,  (but  that  thou  canfl  not  fay) 
why  thou  dofl  now  read,  and  hear,  and  meditate 
upon  thefe  things,  which  when  feen  by  the  Eye  of 
Faith ,  are  as  certain  as  if  prefent  to  that  of  the 
Body,  with  fo  flender  imprefHon  and  concern  : 
Why  dofl  not  thou  drink  up  the  bitter  Cup  of 
Tears,  fince  thy  Jefus  did  for  thee  drink  that  of  his 
Father's  Wrath  ?  Why  doft  thou  not  feel  a  Grief 
too  deep  to  be  defcrib'd ,  like  that  of  his  Virgin- 
Mother,  when  fhe  faw  her  innocent  and  only  Son 
bound  and  fcourg'd ,  tortur'd  and  flain  before  her 
Face  'y  fince  the  relation  here  too  is  mofl  clofe  and 
dear,  and,  as  thy  Lord  was  hers,  fo  art  thou  thy 
J-vord's  Flefh  and  Bones,  a  Member  of  that  Body 
whereof  he  is  the  Head  ? 

Had  1 5    with   holy  Jofeply^    taken   my   Lord 

down  from  the  Crofs ,    wrapped  him  in  Spices , 

and    laid   him    in    the   Sepulchre ,    how    happy 

ihould  I  have  really  eileem'd  my  felf,    that  any 

^  tl  5  officioui 


io8  MEDITATIONS. 

officious  Rerpe6t  of  mine  had  contributed  to  the 
Honour  of  his  Interment  ?    What  glad  Aftonilh- 
mcnt  jfhould  I  have  felt,    had  I  been  in  company 
with  thofe    zealous  Women  who  were  affrighted 
with  a  Vifion  of  Angels ,   and  heard  that  comfort- 
Mat.  i8.   able,   that  reviving  Meflage,   Fear  not  ye-y  ye  feek 
Si^'         y^fus  'which  was  crucified :    He  is  not  here^  for  he  is 
rifen.    Thefe,  deareft  Lord,  were  moving  Obje6ls, 
which  thy  Providence  did  not  think  fit  to  give  me 
a  bodily  fight  of,  but  I  behold  them  all  by  a  diftinft 
and  undoubted  Faith.     I  fee  the  Pledges  and  Me- 
morials of  them  daily  in  thy  blefled  Sacraments  : 
And  tho'  I  was  not  vxllow'd  to  kifs  thy  Scars,    and 
drop  my  Tears  into  the   print   of  the  Spear  and 
Nails,  yet,   as  oft  as  I  approach  thy  Table  with 
deep    remorfe   and    due  reverence,    I  there  weep 
over   thy  crucified  Body,   there   contemplate  the 
Pangs  of  thy  bitter  Death,    thcie  rejoice  in  the 
Triumphs  of  thy  Rcfurreftion ,    there  receive  the 
cffeftual  Rcprefentation  of  all  thou  haft  done  and 
fuffer'd  for  me^    and,   by  a  holy  union  with  thee 
and  all  thy  Mem.bers,  attain  a  greater  Privilege  than 
any  convcrfation  with  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  Fleflx 
could  have  conferred.     Thou  art  to  all  intents  the 
fame  Saviour,  and  i^  they  that  faw  thee  were  blef- 
fed,  becaufe  they  believ'd,  yet  thy  own  Mouth  de- 
John  10.  clar'd  them  no  lefs  hk/Jed  who  have  not  feen^   and 
-9-  yet  ha'ce  believed. 

But  ftill  the  fight  of  thee,  of  thy  Beauties,  and 
thy  Glory,  is  the  conllant  Dcfire,  the  only  End, 
and  noble  Reward  of  our  Faith  ^  and,  in  this 
clouded  difconfolate  interval ,  till  that  can  be  ob- 
tained ,  my  Soul  finds  it  fclf  frequently  at  a  lofs 
how  to  exprefs  it  fclf,  what  to  do,  whither  to 
bend  its  courfe,  or  where  to  find  its  much  loved 
Lord.  Who  fiiall  tell  my  Spoufe  how  I  languifli 
for  him  j  how  my  Joy  is  turn'd  into  Heavinefs, 
and  my  Laughter  into  Mourning,   for  want  of  his 

P  fal.  73.  dear  prefence  ?  My  flejlo  and  my  heart  faikth^  but  God 
z6.  i^ 


MEDITATIONS.  109 


is  the  ftrength  of  ?ny  heart  and  my  portion  for  ever.  My 
Soul  refufeth  Comfort  from  any  other  Hand  but 
thine,  my  Joy  and  Treafurcj  for.  Whom  have  lin-i^.  75, 
Heaven  hut  thee?  and  there  is  none  upon  Earth  that  I 
defire  hefides  thee.  Thou  haft  commanded  me  to  feck 
thy  Face,  and  my  Heart  moft  readily  replies,  ^^^J'pfal.i-.S. 
Face^  Lord^  will  I  feck^  O  turn  not  thou  thy  Face 
from  7ne.^  nor  caft  away  thy  Servant  in  difplcafure. 

O  moft  affectionate  Lover  of  Souls,  I'he  Poor  com-  pf,i  10. 
mitt eth  himfelf  unto  thee ^  and  thou  art  the  helper  of  ij\,. 
the  fatherlefs.     O  my  moft  faithful  Guardian,   pre- 
ferve  and  pity  me  j    I  am  an  Orphan  deftitute  of 
Friends,   and  my  Soul  is  in  a  ftate  of  Poverty  and 
Widowhood.     Look  upon  the  Tears  I  llied  for  thy 
abffcnce  in  this  defolate  condition  >  and  come.  Lord 
Jefus,  come  unto  me  quickly,    that  I  may  be  com- 
forted 5  fhew  me  thy  Face,  and  I  ihall  be  fatisficd  j 
difcover  thy  Glory,  -.vrK^  my  Joy  fliall  be  full :  IVIy 
Flefh  and  my  Soul  thirfi  and  pant  for  thee^  the  Uving'^^Ti   41. 
God^  the  Fountain  of  Life,  O  when  fo all  I  come  and  \,  2.. 
appear  before  God? 

When  will  my  Comforter,  whom  I  fo  earneftly 
look  for,  make  his  approaches  to  me  ?  When,  O 
when  fhall  I  feel  the  Joy  I  fo  paftionately  defire, 
and  be  fiU'd  with  the  Pleafures  of  that  glorious 
Dwelling,  which  I  hope  to  reach  at  the  end  of 
this  wearifom  Journey  of  Life?  Lord,  if  I  may 
not  yet  drink  of  the  River  of  thy  Pleafures^  let  me 
at  leaft  drink  o^  the  Brook  in  the  way.  Let  my  Tears 
be  my  Meat  and  Drink  Day  and  Night,  till  the 
dawn  of  that  glorious  Morning,  when  my  Soul 
fliall  be  awaken'd  with  that  moft  welcome  Call, 
Behold  thy  Spoufe^  thy  Lord^  the  Marriage-  of  the  pfal.  6^. 
Lamb  is  com.e.  All  I  prcfume  to  afk  at  prefcnt4.  &:  no, 
is  Refreiliment  and  Support  under  my  Sorrov/s  57. 
and,  that  theie  may  be  fuch  as  will  one  day  be 
turn'd  into  Joy  3  for  I  know  my  Redeemer 
will    come,    becaufe   he   is   merciful    and   true  5, 

H  4  nor 


no 


MEDITATIONS. 


nor  will  he  fufpend  my  Happinefs  by  unneceflary 
Prov.  8.  Delay,  bccaufe  he  loaves  thofe  that  love  hlm^  and 
17'  they  that  feek  him  early  fiall  be  fure  to  find  him. 

To  whom  therefore  be  Glory  and  Praife  for  eve* 

and  ever.     Amen. 

the  End  of  the  Firft  Book  of  Meditations, 


St* 


MEDITATIONS.  1 1 1 


St.  AUGUSTINE 

Of  the  Love  of  God. 

OR,    HIS 

Second  Book  of  Meditations. 


B  o  o  K  IL 

CHAP.    I. 

LovCy  the  Way  that  leadeth  to  Life. 

Y  what  Means  we  may  avoid  the  Torments 
of  Hell,  and  attain  the  Joys  of  Heaven,  is 
an  Enquiry  which  deferves  our  moft  at- 
tentive apphcation  of  Thought  ^  a  Science  to  be 
learnt  at  the  expence  of  our  moil  watchful  Care, 
and  moft  foUicitous  Concern.  And  in  this  Study 
'tis  of  great  confequence  to  fet  out  right  3  for  all 
our  moft  afliduous  Endeavours  will  be  employed 
to  very  little  purpofe ,  if  v/e  be  not  firft  inftructed 
what  Way  it  is  that  leads  to  everlafting  Blifs,  and 
carries  us  out  from  all  danger  of  everlafting  Mife- 
ry.  'Tv/ill  therefore  behove  us  very  diligently  to 
confider  thofe  words  of  the  Apoftle,  in  i  Cor,  z.  p. 
V/hich,  taken  in   their  juft  latitude,    do   plainly 

teach 


Ill  MEDITATIONS. 


teach  us  thefe  two  things :    Firil,  That  the  Glories 
of  the  BlefTed,    in  a  future  State,   are  greater  than 
can  be  exprefs'd  j   and  then,  Secondly,  what  is  the    k 
way  5   by  which  we  muil  arrive  at  this  BlefTednefs.    I 
I  Cor.i  9  Eye^  he  lays,  hath  not  feen^  nor  Ear  heard .y  neither  hath     \ 
it  entred  into  the  Heart  of  Man  to  conceive^  the  things 
isjhich  God  hath  prepared  for  thern  that  love  him..  Now 
when  he  tells  us  that  thefe  excellent  things  are  pre- 
pare for  them  that  love  God,  from  thence  the  Infe« 
rence  is  natural  and  plain,    that  Love  is  the  Condi- 
tion enjoin'd,  in  order  to  the  obtaining  them.    But 
then  the  Scripture  makes  it  no  lefs  evident ,    that 
the  Love  of  God,  and  the  Love  of  our  Neighbour, 
are  Virtues  infeparable  from  each  other.     For  thus 
much  is  the  importance  of  that  pafTage  in  St.  Johnj 
I  John  4.  //^  that  loveth  not  his  Brother  whom  he  hath  fecn^ 
20,  ii.     hoiv  can  he  love  God  whom  he  hath  not  feen?    And 
this  Commandment  have  we  from  him^    That  he  who 
loveth  God  love  his  Brother  alfo.     In  thefe  two  parts 
it  feems  that  true  Charity  confifts,  to  which  St.  P.?/// 
hath  given  fo  glorious  a  Chara&er,   when  he  fliuts 
up  his  Difcourfe  of  the  extraordinary  Gifts  of  the 
T  Cor.  II  Spirit  with  thofe  remarkable  words.    And  yet  fJjcw 
3^'  I  unto  you  a  more  excellent  way.  Charity  then  is  not 

only  the  way,  but  the  beft,  nay,  the  only  way,  that 
leads  to  our  Heavenly  Country  5  for  'tis  impoilible 
for  any  Man  ever  to  come  thither  by  any  other 
way.  But  who  is  it  that  knov.'-s,  or  walks  in 
this  way?  Even  he  that  loves  God  and  his  Bro- 
ther. It  will  concern  us  then  to  be  perfectly  well 
informed  what  are  the  proper  Expreflions  of  our 
Love  to  each,  and  the  iuft  meafures  of  our  Affe6ti-- 
on  to  God  and  to  our  Neighbour.  And  of  this  point 
it  may  fuffice  to  fay,  that  we  are  bound  in  Duty  to 
love  God  more  than  our  felves^  and  to  love  our  Neigh- 
bour as  our  [elves.  Now  we  love  God  more  than 
our  felvcs ,  when  upon  all  occafions  we  pcfer  his 
Will  before  our  own,  and  fufi-zr  no  private  Intercfb 
or  fenfual  Inclination  to  come  in  competiuon  with 

his 


MEDITATIONS.  113 


his  Commands  5  and  his  Honour.  But  it  is  very 
obfervable,  that  although  wc  are  enjoy n'd  to  love 
our  Neighbour  as  our  felves,  yet  we  are  nowhere 
enjoin'd  to  love  him  as  much  as  we  do  our  felves  j 
and  therefore  our  Duty  in  this  refpect  is  latisfied, 
when  we  heartily  wifli  and  endeavour  all  that  good 
to  our  Neighbour,  which  we  ought  to  wilh  and 
endeavour  the  attainment  of  our  lelves,  efpecial- 
ly  the  everlalling  Happinefs  of  the  Soul  ;  when 
w^e  contribute  to  his  obtaining  it,  and  omit  no 
Inilancc,  whereby  our  Help  may  be  of  any  ufe  to 
him,  in  procuring  any  Advantage,  whether  Tem- 
poral or  Spiritual,  fo  far  as  the  prefent  Circum- 
ilances  of  Affiiirs  render  our  Affiftance  feafonable, 
and  our  own  Condition  puts  it  in  our  power  to 
become  ferviceable  to  him.  This  Explication  a- 
grees  exactly  with  the  Equity  of  our  Lord's  Rule, 
JVloatfoeierye  would  that  Men  fljoulddo  uyitoyou^  do  ye  y^^x.i  1 1. 
e^uen  fo  to  thern.  And  it  fhews  us  hkewife  the  ne- 
ceffity  of  that  other  left  us  by  St.  John^  Let  us  not  j  john  3. 
lo've  in  word^  neither  in  tongue^  but  in  deed^  and  in  1 8. 
truth.  But  it  may  be  afk'd  once  more,  who  thofe 
Neighbours  are  whom  wc  are  bound  to  love  after 
this  manner?  And  to  this  the Anfwer  is  veryihort, 
That  the  Command  is  of  unlimited  extent,  and 
comprehends  all  Mankind  3  whether  they  be  Chri- 
ftians,  Jev.'s ,  or  Infidels  3  whether  they  be  Ac- 
quaintance or  Strangers  j  whether  they  be  Friends 
or  Eneniies. 


C  H  A  P.    II. 

Upon  "what  account Sy  and  in  what  manner y  we 
ought  to  love  God, 

UT  in  regard  this  Duty  is  of  fuch  infinite  con- 

fequence,   and  that  the  whole  of  our  Hopes 

and  Happinefs  depends  upon  the  due  performance 
=  '  of 


114  MEDITATIONS. 

of  it,    it  is  very  necefTiiry  that  we  confider  diligent- 
ly what  are  the  grounds  of  this  Obhgation ,   and 
by  what  means  it  may  be  difcharg'd.      Nov/  no- 
thing will  conduce  to  the  begetting,   chcrifhing, 
and  heightning  in  our  Minds  a  holy  Love  towards 
God^   lo  much  as  a  frequent  rccoIle61:ion  and  juft 
'     Eftimate  of  his  wonderful  Goodnels ,   and  innume- 
rable Benefits  to  us :    For  indeed,  the  Blellings  he 
gives  us  of  his  own  mere  Motion  are  fo  many  and 
io  great,   andUhe  Recompence.Jie  .makes, us  in  rc- 
^y  turn  for  any  Services  we  pay  him,    is  fo  exceeding 
%  difproportionate   to  what   we  have   reafon  to  ex- 
"'^  pc6t,   that  our  Souls  mull  of  neceiuty  be  at  a  lofs, 
^/  and  perfe6lly  confounded  with  amazement  at  the 
,>Hum.ber  and  the  value  of  the  Favours  we  receive 
at  his  Hands.     But  though  thefe  are  fo  ineftimably 
great,   that  'tis  impoilible  for  us  to  make  fuch  a 
return  of  Love,    and  Thanks,    and  Obedience  as 
they  deferve ,   yet  fure  it  is,  we  are  bound  to  make 
the  beft  we  can ,   and  by  our  Diligence  to  pay  to 
the  utmofl  of  our  Ability,   remembring  that  the 
vaft  Arrear  behind  (lands  IHII  charg'd  to  account, 
hot  from  any  want  of  Will ,   but  merely  from  the 
want  of  Power  to  clear  fo   great  a  Debt.      And 
thus,  my  Soul,  thou  hail  an  Anfwer  to  the  firft  En- 
quiry propounded  in  this  Chapter,  which  was  con- 
cerning the  Ground  of  this  Duty.     For  therefore 
;  iB  our  Lord  to  be  moil  affectionately  lov'd  by  us, 
J  becaufe  he  is  fo  wonderfully  compaffionate  and  ten- 
,'  der,   Co  kind  and  bountiful,   and  poureth  out  his 
Benefits  upon  us  in  fuch  abundance :    And  all  this 
not  from  any  manner  of  defcrt  or  worth  in  us,  that 
might  engage  his  Favour,   but  of  his  own  Good- 
v/ill  and  mere  Motion  -,    of  which  we  are  able  tQ 
render  no  other  reafon,  but  only  this,  that  he  will 
have  Mercy  J  becaufe  he  delights  in ,    and  ijoill  have 
Mercy, 
\       The  other,  How  this  God  is  to  he  lovecl^  that  Com^ 
mand  which   enjoins  the  Duty  makes  fufficient)y 

plain. 


MEDITATIONS.  iij 


plain.  And  what  a  ftrict  obfervance  of  this  Com- 
mand is  rcquir'd  from  us,  we  may  caiily  infer  frorri 
the  Terms  in  which  it  is  exprefs'd ,  and  the  So- 
lemnity us'd  in  laying  it  upon  us.  Hear  then,  O 
Man,  the  firfi  and  great  Commandment  y  hearken  to 
it  attentively,  remember  it  exaftly,  meditate  upon 
it  inceifantly,  and  ufe  thy  very  utmoft  Efforts  to 
fulfil  it  without  delay,  without  intermiflion,  with-^ 
out  end,  or  ever  fuppofing  thou  half  done  fo  much, 
that  thou  art  at  liberty  to  defift  from  any  frefh  In- 
Itances  of  thy  regard  to  it.  All  this  is  imply'd  in 
that  awakening  Preface,  by  which  God  introduces 
it:  Hear^  O  Ifrael^  the  Lord  thy  God  is  one  Lord.  Deut.6.4. 
Now  the  Command  itfelf  runs  thus.  Thou  Jh alt  love  y[^tx,  12.^  \ 
the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  Hearty  and  with  allth)  2.9,  30.  v 
Soul^  and  with  all  thy  Mind^  andwith  all  thy  Strength, 
Which  is  as  much  as  to  fay,  that  our  intelle<5tual 
Faculties,  the  Underflanding,  the  Will,  and  the 
Memory,  fhould  all  be  fix'd  on  This,  as  on  their 
heft  ani  proper  Objecbj  that  God  fhould  be  the 
Subjecl  of  our  Study  j  that  he  Ihould  prefide  over'^ 
all  our  Inclinations,  be  the  ultimate  End  of  all  our 
Defires,  dwell  always  prefent  in  our  Thoughts,  and 
reign  Supreme,  as  the  governing  Principle  of  all 
our  A61:ions.  In  a  word,  that  we  fliould  contem- 
plate, and  chufe,  and  remember,  and  reverence 
Him  above  all,  and  make  it  our  Bulineis  to  live  to 
Him  alone. 

How  Men  come  fo  eafily  to  (atisfy  themifelves 
with  being  fo  extreamly  negligent  in  this  moll:  ne« 
ceflary  Branch  of  their  Obedience,  is  very  difficult 
to  conceive  5  except  it  be  from  hence,  that  want- 
ing a  due  fenfe  of  the  greatnefs  of  God's  Love, 
they  proportion  their  Regard  to  Him  according  to 
their  own  fcanty  Notions  of  his  Goodnefs  toward 
them.  And  therefore,  for  prevention  of  this  fault 
in  thee,  do  thou,  my  Soul,  attend  with  reverence, 
and  thankfully  recolle61:  the  innumerable  Benefits 
which  He  hath  bellow'd   upon  thee  j    the  many 

precious 


ii6  MEDITATIONS. 


precious  Promifes  he  hath  made  thee:  And  then 
I  doubt  not  but  what  thou  hail  already,  and  what 
thou  art  warranted  to  hope  for  hereafter,  will  fuf  * 
iiciently  convince  thee,  that  thou  art  under  the 
highell  ObUgations  to  love  God  with  a  moil:  fer- 
vent and  entire  Affection.  Now,  in  order  to  exer- 
cife  and  encreafc  this  Love  the  more  effe6bually,  be- 
gin thy  Condderations  where  God  began  the  Ex- 
preflions  of  his  Goodnefs,  and  think  fcrioufly  with 
thy  felf,  by  whom,  upon  v/hat  motive,  and  to  what 
purpofe  Man  was  created,  and  what  things  God 
was  pleas'd  to  create  belides,  for  the  fake  and  fer- 
vice  of  Man. 

Firll  then,  We  mufl  underfland,  that  there  is 
but  one  Caufe  which  produced  all  created  Beings, 
whether  they  be  things  in  Heaven,  or  things  on 
Earth,  whether  they  be  vifible  or  invilible.  That 
this  fole,  this  univerfal  Caufe,  was  no  other  than 
the  Goodnefs  of  their  Creator,  who  is  the  One 
True  God  ^  whofe  EfTential  Goodnefs  is  fo  large, 
and  fo  communicative,  that  Ele  was  pleas'd  to 
make  others  Partakers  of  that  Bleflednefs,  which 
He  enjoys  from  and  to  all  Eternity,  and  w^hich  he 
fiw  capable  of  being  imparted,  without  any  poili- 
bility  of  fuffering  diminution  by  being  thus  diffu- 
fed.  That  Good  therefore,  which  is  his  very  Na- 
ture, and  wherein  his  own  Happincfs  confills,  he 
did  thus  fhew  abroad,  not  by  neceffity,  but  free 
choice,  becaufe  'tis  the  Property  of  the  Supreme 
Good  to  will  the  Good  of  others,  and  the  Excel- 
lence of  Supreme  Power  to  exert  it  felf,  not  to  the 
prejudice,  but  the  benefit  of  all  that  are  fubject 
to  it.  Now,  becaufe  this  Bleflednefs  of  God  can- 
not be  any  otherwifc  partaken  of,  but  by  being 
underftood  ;  and  the  more  perfectly  it  is  under- 
ftood,  the  more  plentifully  it  is  imparted  -,  God 
was  pleas'd  to  make  rational  Creatures,  and  to 
give  to  fjch  a  Capacity  of  undcrilanding  the  Su- 
preme Good,  of  having  what  they  thus  underllood, 

of 


MEDITATIONS.  117 

oF  poiieiling  this  beil  Objc6t  of  their  Love,  and  of 
enjoying  wh^it  they  fo  poflefs'd.  This  rational 
part  of  the  Creation  is  ih  order'd,  that  part  of  it 
retains  its  elfential  Purity,  without  being  united  to 
any  Bodily  Subftance^  and  fuch  are  the  Angels: 
Another  part  there  is  join  to  the  Body,  and  fuch 
is  the  Soul  of  Man.  Rational  Creatures  then,  are 
either  Incorporeal  or  Corporeal  :  The  Incorpo- 
real are  Angels,  for  thefe  are  (imple  Spirits.  The 
Corporeal  are  Men,  fo  call'd,  becaufe  the  Human 
Nature  confiflis  not  only  of  a  reafonable  Soul,  but 
alfo  of  a  flefhly  Body.  So  then,  that  the  rational 
Creature  had  any,  and  that  it  had  particularly  this 
kind  of  Exiftence,  is  to  be  imputed  wholly  to  the 
Goodnefs  of  Almighty  God,  as  its  original  impul- 
five  Caufc.  Men  then  and  Angels,  both  were  crea- 
ted by  the  Goodneis  of  God ;  for  we  therefore  are 
at  all,  becaufe  God  is  good,  and  the  whole  of  that 
Being  we  receive  from  God  is  good.  But  to  what  s 
purpofe  were  thefe  rational  Creatures  made?  Sure- 
ly to  praife  God,  and  to  love  him,  and  to  enjoy 
himj  in  all  which  not  the  Creator's,  but  the  Crea- 
ture's advantage  is  confulted  5  for  God  is  abfolute-  . 
ly  perfe6t  and  happy  in  himfelf,  and  cannot  receive 
either  Addition  or  Diminution  from  any  of  the 
Works  of  his  own  Hands.  The  only  Ufes  then 
that  can  be  ferv'd  by  making  fuch  Creatures  as/ 
theie,  and  the  only  account  that  can  be  given  why' 
they  were  made  at  all,  muft  be  the  illultration  of 
the  Creator's  Goodnefs,  and  the  promoting  of  the 
Creature's  Happinefs.  When  therefore  the  Que- 
Irion  is  aflv'd.  Why,  or  to  what  end  rational  Crea- 
tures were  made  -,  the  true  Anfwer  undoubtedly  is 
this.  That  they  were  made  becaufe  God  was  good, 
and  to  the  intent  they  might  be  happy:  For,  what 
can  conduce  to  their  Happinefs  fo  much  as  to  fervc 
Him,  and  to  enjoy  Him  ? 

CHAP. 


ii8  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.    III. 

How  God  made  all  Things  for  Man. 

WHEN  God  is  faid  to  have  made  Angels  or 
Men  for  himielf,  we  mull  not  fo  millake 
this  Expreflioft,  as  fondly  to  imagine,  that  He  who 
made  both  had  any  need  of  either  5    or,  that  the 
Acknowledgments  and  Services,   which  He  gave 
them  a  capacity  of  paying,    arc  any  addition  to 
the  fulnefs  of  his  Bliis  and  Glory.     For,  how  un- 
worthily fhould  we  conceive  of  our  Creator's  Ma- 
jefty,   by  thinking  that  any  thing  which  we  call 
Ours,   or  is  moll  valuable  in  us,  could  encreafe  or 
take  away  from  his  Bleflednefs  ?     No,  he  made  us 
to  ferve  Him,   but  it  was  becaufe  His  Service  is 
Freedom,  is  an  Honour ,    and  to  be  fuch  Subj e61:s, 
is  to  be  truly  Kings.     This  Service  redounds  whol- 
ly to  the  profit  of  him  that  pays  it,   but  not  at  all 
to  his,   to  whom  it  is  paid.     And,   as  God  made 
Man  for  himfelf,    fo   did   he   like  wife   make  the 
World  for  Man  -,  that  is,  fo  as  to  minifler  to  Man's 
ufe  and  Comfort.     Man  then  is  plac'd  in  a  middle 
and  fubordinate  Station,   fo  as  to  be  under  Autho- 
rity himfelf,   yet  to  have  Servants  under  him  too : 
And  thus  all  things  are  moil  admirably  contriv'd 
to  our  advantage,  when  both  the  Homage  we  payy 
and  that  which  is  paid  to  us,  flows  into  one  com- 
mon Channel,  and  all  unites  at  lail  in  our  Advan- 
tage, as  in  its  proper  Centre.     God  will  be  ferv'd 
by  Man,    for  this  reafon,    that  not  He,  but  Man 
may  reap  the  benefit  of  that  Service :    Again,  God 
will   have  Man  ferv'd  by  the  World,  that  by  this 
Service  alio  Man  may  be  the  gainer.     So  that  we 
may  with   due  Reverence   fiy,     that   the   whole 
defign  of  the  Creation,  and  eveiy  part  of  it,   may 
be  at  lafl  reduced  to  the  Happincfs  of  Man  >  fince 
both  that  which  was  made  for  him,  and  that  for 

which 


MEDITATIONS.  119 

which  himfelf  was  made,  do  mutually  confpire  to 
make  him  happy.     Thus  all  things^  as  the  Apoflle  r  Cor.  3: 
lays,  are  Ours-y    whether  they  be  things  above  usj^t. 
or  upon  a  level  with  us,  or  below  us.     The  things 
above  us  are  for  our  Enjoyment,  and  fuch  is  God. 
Thofe  on  the  level  with  us  are  for  our  Society, 
and  fuch  are  Angels,  whom  I  prefume  to  call  our 
Equals,  not  only  vnth  regard  to  the  fame  rational 
Nature,  but  chiefly  in  profpe<5t  of  our  future  State : 
for  we  are  afllired  that  hovv^ever  they  are  now  in 
fevcral   refpe6ts   fuperior   to   us,    yet  in  the  next 
World  the  Children  of  the  Refurre6tion  fhall  be 
as  they  are^    and  fhall  live  with  them  for  ever  in  Matt.  22; 
Heaven.     The  things  below  us  are  likewife  ours  530. 
for  we  have  the  \J^t  and  Convenience  of  them,  as 
the  Mafters  Goods  are,  in  a  true  but  qualified  fenfe, 
faid  to  be  their  Sei*vants.     Not  that  this  gives  them 
a  Property  exclufive  of  their  Mafters,   but  extends 
the  Benefit  and  the  Privilege  of  ufing  them.    Nay, 
even   the  Angels,    in  fome  PafTages  of  Scripture 
are  (Iiid  to  do  us  Service  ^  nor  did  the  Apoftle  think 
it  any  Difparagement  to  their  Character  and  Dig- 
nity, when  he  called  them  all  miniftring  Spirits^  fent  Heb.r.14; 
forth  to  Minifter  for  them  who  fJoall  he  Heirs  of  Sal- 
ivation.    A  very  great  Honour  this,  but  fuch  as  we 
ought  not  to  make  any  difficulty  of  believing  to 
be  done  to  us,  when  we  reflc6t  upon  that  fo  much 
more  aftonifhing  Condefcenfion   of   the  Creator, 
and  King  of  Angels,  who  defcribes  the  end  of  his 
coming  into  the  World  in  thole  very  humble  terms^ 
that  he  came  not  to  he  miniftred  unto<y  hut  to  minifter^  Matt.  20. 
and  to  give  his  life  a  ranfom  for  many.     The  Angels  28. 
are  faid  to  offer  up  Prayers  to  God.      Not  that 
they  inftrucl  him  what  we  do,  or  what  we  afk  3 
for  he  knows  all  things  exa61:iy  as  they  are,  even 
before  they  are :    And  therefore  cannot  poflibly  be 
ignorant  of  them  afterwards.     But  they  attend  his 
pleafure  upon  thefe  occafions,  execute  his  Orders, 
and  what  they  knew  God  '  hath  decreed,  are  fome- 

I  times 


I20  MEDITATIONS. 

times  Inftruments  of  accomplifhing,  and  fome- 
times  Meflengcrs  too  to  give  the  Parties  concerned 
notice  of.     Thus  the  Angel  tells  T'obias^  That  he 

Tob.  11.  brought  the  remembrance  of  his  Prayers  before  the  holy 
One^  and  that  there  are  (ome  Spirits,  whofe  Office 

II.  r  J.  it  is  ^^  prefent  the  Prayers  of  the  Saints^  and  to  go  in 
and  out  before  the  Throne  of  God,  And  all  this  in  a 
Senfe  very  agreeable  to  what  we  do  when  we  pray. 
For  neither  is  this  religious  Exercife  defigned  to  in- 
form God  of  our  Wishes  or  our  Wants  >  but  it  is 
neceflary,  that  reafonable  Creatures  fhould  refer  all 
their  temporal  Occafions  to  the  judgment  and  dif- 
pofal  of  eternal  Tmth :  Either  by  afking  what  they 
think  fit  to  be  done  for  them.  Or  by  defiring  to 
know  what  he  fees  fit  to  be  done  with  them,  and 
by  them.  So  that  a  Principle  of  mai*vcllous  Chari- 
ty invites  the  Holy  Angels  from  their  Manfions  of 
Blifs  in  Heaven,  that  they  may  fuggeft  good  Coun- 
fel  in  our  Difficulties,  that  they  may  vifit  and  com- 
fort us  in  our  DillrefTes  and  Sufferings,  and  that 
they  may  fuccour  us  in  our  Conflifts  and  Dangers. 
All  which  good  Offices  they  perform  with  the 
greateft  Cheerfulnefs  and  Vigilance  imaginable  ^  up- 
on God's,  upon  ours,  and  upon  their  own  account. 
Upon  God's,  becaufe  they  love  and  admire  that  Re- 
femblance  of  their  own  Excellencies,  which  ap- 
pear in  our  Nature  3  and  upon  their  own,  becaule 
they  hope  and  wifh  to  fee  their  numbers  recruited 
by  the  Spirits  of  jufl  Men  made  perfe6t,  and  re- 
ceived into  the  place  of  the  fallen  Angels. 


CHAR 


MEDITATIONS.  lit 

CHAP.    IV. 
Of  the  Love  of  God  towards  us. 

FIrft  then,  it  is  necefiary,  that  every  Man 
ihould  take  a  dillin^t  View  of  himfelf,  and 
when  he  is  arrived  at  a  due  underflanding  of  the 
honourable  Poll  God  hath  placed  him  in,  that  he 
be  careful  not  to  difhonour  himfelf,  nor  injure  his 
Maker,  by  fetthng  his  Affedions  upon  things  that 
are  below,  or  unworthy  of  his  Charafter.  For 
Objects,  which  conlidered  fingly  and  feparately^ 
may  appear  beautiful  and  lovely,  do  yet  defer- 
vedly  fink  in  eileem,  when  compared  with  others 
confelTedly  more  excellent.  It  argues  great  Folly 
to  put  things  manifellly  deform Vi  and  vile,  upon 
the  level  with  fiich  as  are  amiable  and  handfome^ 
and  is  it  a  point^f  Wifdom  to  raife  thofe  which 
have  a  noble  and  real  Excellence,  and  neither  de- 
pending upon  mere  Fancy  nor  of  the  meanefl 
Rank  of  Beauties,  to  an  equal  degree  with  the 
higheft  and  moft  eminently  Good  ?  Condder  then, 
my  Soul,  what  Excellencies  thou  art  endued  with, 
and  from  hence  take  thy  meafures,  what  Excel- 
lencies thofe  are  that  deferve  thy  Love.  Now, 
if  through  negligence,  or  long  difufe  of  the  molt 
exalted  Objects,  thy  Eyes  are  fo  far  blinded,  that 
thou  canft  not  entertain  fuch  lofty  Ideas  of  thy 
own  condition,  as  the  cafe  requires  y  yet  thus  fir 
at  leaft,  conquer  thy  own  prejudices,  as  to  learn  to 
make  a  jull  eftimate  of  thy  felf,  by  the  Judgment 
which  another  hath  made  of  thee.  And  for  this 
thou  canil;  not  want  opportunity,  becaufe  the  mat- 
ter is  ^o  plain,  as  to  give  thee  fufficient  Direction. 
Thou  halt  a  Lord  and  Spoufe,  but  how  exquilitely 
beautiful,  as  yet  thou  dolt  not  perfe6tly  know,  be- 
caufe thou  halt  not  feen  his  Face.  He  fees  and  knows 
Thee  throughly  >  for  had  he  not  done  fo,  he  would 

I  z  not 


Ill  MED  I  TATIONS. 


not  love  thee.     He  hath  not  thought  fit  hitherto 
to  prefent  himfelf  to  thee,  but  he  hath  made  thee 
many  noble  Prefents ;    and  given  fuch  Pledges  of 
his  Kindnefs,   as  might  at  once  be  both  Aflurances 
and  Signs,  who  it  is,   that  hath  betrothed  thee  to 
himfelf,  and  how  exceeding  tender  that  AfFeftion 
is,  which  moved  him  to  this  Union.     Couldft  thou 
behold  his  Charms,  there  could  be  no  longer  ground 
of  doubt.     For  thou  wouldft  be  convinced,  that 
One  fo  fan*,  fo  heavenly  fweet.  One  of  fuch  match- 
lefs  Excellence,    could  not  be  fmitten  with  thee, 
were  there  not  in  thy  form  fomewhat  very  graceful, 
very  uncommon,   to  recommend  thee,  and  engage 
his  Love.     But  in  the  mean  while,   how  doft  thou 
behave  thy  felf  upon  this  occafion?   See  him  face 
to  face  thou  canll  not,  becaufe  he  is  abfent  5  And 
is  this  a  fufficient  reafon  for  not  paying  him  reve- 
rence, for  infolently  and  ihamelellly  affronting  him, 
for  flighting  that  love  which  tlifu  canft  not  but 
fee,  and  impudently  proflituting  thy  felf  to  the  luft 
of  feducing  Strangers  ?    O  do  not  treat  him  after 
this  contemptuous  manner !    If  thou  canft  not  as 
yet  know  all  the  Charms  of  thy  Lover,   yet  thou 
-canft  underftand  the  valuable Inftances  of  his  Love. 
Thefe  arc  already  actually  in  thy  poffcffionj  and, 
if  confidered  as  they  ought,  will  plainly  ftiew  thee, 
what  Returns  of  Love  it  becomes  thee  to  make, 
and  how  extremely  follicitous  thou  oughteft  to  be, 
not  to  difpleafe,  not  to  defpiie,   not  to  lofe  him  or 
his  fivour.    The  Pledge  he  hath  given  thee  is  moft 
extraordinary :    A  noble  Gift  fuited  to  the  Majefty 
of  the  Giver.     And,   as  it  was  below  fo  great  a 
Perfon  to  beftow  a  thing  of  little  value ;  (6  were  it 
no  lefs  unbecoming  fo  wife  a  Perfon,  to  throw  a- 
way  things  of  the  higheft  value  upon  one  in  whom 
there  was  httle  or  nothing  valuable.     Great  there- 
fore is  the  Prefent  he  hath  made,  but  greater  ftill 
in  his  efteem  is  that  which  he  loves  in  thee,  and 
which  induced  him  to  give  it. 

But 


MEDITATIONS.  izi 

But  thou  perhaps  wilt  afk,  my  Soul ,  what  this 
great  Gift  is,  which  thy  Spoufe  hath  fhewed  him- 
ielf  fo  very  bountiful ,  in  bellowing  upon  thee. 
Look  round  this  Univerfe ,  view  every  part  of  it, 
and  tell  me  if  thou  canft  there  difcover  any  thing 
which  does  not  fome  way  or  other  do  thee  icwicc. 
Is  not  this  the  end  to  which  every  Creature  feems 
to  have  been  deiigned  ?  And  does  not  the  whole 
courfe  of  Nature  plainly  promote  it  ?  The  gratify^ 
ing  thy  defires,  the  bringing  in  thy  profit,  the  fup'^ 
ply  of  thy  wants,  the  furnifhing  flore  for  thy  com- 
forts and  delights,  the  doing  all  this  in  great  abun- 
dance, and  confulting  not  barely  thy  Necellities,  but 
even  thy  Eafe  and  Pleafure.  This  is  what  the  Hea- 
vens, the  Earth,  the  Air,  the  Sea,  and  all  the  In- 
habitants and  Produ6ts  of  each  of  them,  are  with  a 
continual  and  moll  officious  Diligence  employed 
about.  The  regular  Revolutions  of  Time,  the 
various  Seafons  of  the  Year,  the  flated  Succellions 
of  Night  and  Day,  by  which  the  World  dies  and 
revives,  grows  old  and  young  again  j  its  Fabrick 
ruin'd  and  repaired,  its  Provifions  confum'd  and 
recruited  j  all  is  contriv'd  fo  admirably  for  thy  pur- 
pofe,  that,  as  none  of  thefe  Viciflitudes  are  ufelels, 
fo  one  cannot  conceive  how  any  of  them  could  be 
fpared  without  fome  manifeft,  fome  infupporta- 
ble  Inconvenience.  This  I  fuppofe  thee  fenfible 
of  5  but  art  thou  not  fenfible  at  the  fame  time  who 
it  is  that  fram'd  and  contriv'd  this  wonderful  Or^? 
der,  and  difpofed  every  part  fo  advantageoufly , 
that  whatever  difcord  appears  between  each  other, 
yet  are  all  unanimous  in  promoting  the  common 
Defignj  and  confpire  to  do  thee  feryice?  How 
brutifh  is  it  to  feed  upon  the  benefit ,  and  remain 
ignorant  of  thy  Benefa6lor  ?  The  Gift  is  evident, : 
and  is  the  Giver  a  fecret  ?  Nay,  thy  own  reafon 
will  not  allow  thee  in  vain  an  Imagination,  as, 
that  thefe  Advantages  arc  upon  ar^ account  thy 
c^Ue,  or  of  thy  pwn  procuring,  but  loudly  telk  thee 

I  J  thou 


IZ4  MEDITATIONS. 

Ill  I  "^^■-~'  

thou  oweft  them  all  to  th^  Liberality  of  another. 
Now  be  that  Avho  it  will,  to  whofe  Bounty  thou 
art  fo  largely  indebted ,  'tis  plain  he  hath  given  us 
much  J  and  no  lefs  plain,  that  he,  who  gave  fo 
much ,  would  not  have  done  it ,  had  he  not  loved 
much.  So  the  grcatnefs  of  his  AfFe6tion,  and  the 
indifpenfable  Obligation  to  ours  in  return  are  both 
of  them  demonftrable  from  the  Quahty  of  his  Gift. 
Now  hov/  extravagantly  foolifh  is  it  not  to  defire 
the  true  love  of  one ,  who  hath  it  in  his  Power  to 
be  fo  excellent  a  Friend  ?  Not  to  do  it  of  our  own 
accord,  and  in  regard  to  our  Intereft,  though  there 
were  no  antecedent  ObHgation  ?  But  hov/  impious, 
how  perverfe,  how  bafe,  not  to  love  him  in  return, 
who  hath  been  fo  inexpreflibly  kind  to  us  ?  If  then 
thou  loveft  other  things  befides,  do  it  with  fuch 
Limitations  as  are  proper  j  maintain  thy  Charac- 
ter, and  remember  theirs  >  Love  them  as  things 
below  thee  j  as  thofe  that  were  made  to  do  thee 
ftrvice,  as  tokens  of  thy  Spoufe's  Love,  the  Gift  of 
a  Friend ,  the  Bounty  of  a  Mailer  -,  but  be  fure 
never  to  forget  whofe  Goodnefs  all  thefe  Blcffings 
^re  owing  to,  and  therefore  be  not  fond  of  them, 
for  their  own  fake  5  but  for  his  fake  who  beflow- 
ed  them :  Nor  let  them  divide  thy  Affe6lions  with 
the  Donor,  for  to  take  them  into  tliy  Heart  toge^ 
ther  with  him,  is  a  wrong  and  great  Indignity 3 
and  therefore  they  mull  be  loved  for  him,  but  he  by 
and  for  them,  and  infinitely  above  them  all. 


CHAP.    V. 

Of  the  Fruition  of  God. 

TAke  heed,  my  Soul,  that  thou  incur  not  the 
Reproach  of  a  Harlot,  by  doing  hke  thofe 
common  Proftitutcs ,  who  have  no  Principle  but 
Pr-fit,  and  vf^e  the  Price  of  the  Gift  much  more 
than  the  Affeftion  of  the  Giver.  Thou  canfl  not  be 

guilty 


MEDITATIONS.  iiy 


guilty  of  a  more  infamous,  a  more  injurious  Af- 
front, than  to  accept  and  live  upon  his  Prefents, 
and  not  to  return  his  Love.  Confider  well  the  value 
of  what  thou  haft  received  •,  Or,  if  thou  art  not, 
as  indeed  thou  art  not  able,  truly  to  eftimate  the 
great nefs  of  his  Bounty,  confidei  however  the  ad- 
vantage of  loving  him  in  return.,  |  Love  him  for  his 
own  fake  J  love  thy  felf  for  his  fakej  love  him 
that  thou  mayeft  enjoy  and  be  happy  in  him  3  love 
thy  felf  that  he  may  love  thee.  Love  him  in  the 
good  things  he  hath  beftowed  upon  thee,  love  him 
for  thy  own  fake,  and  thy  felf  for  his  fake.  This 
is  pure  and  chafte  Love ,  debated  with  no  fordid 
Intereft,  embittered  with  no  Torment,  but  delight- 
ful and  generous,  firm  and  lafting.  Think,  and 
recollect  diligently,  my  Soul,  what  Mercies  thou 
haft  received  in  common  with  all  Mankind,  What 
fpccial  Marks  of  Favour,  of  which  All  are  not  al- 
lowed to  partake,  What  others,  which  are  peculiar 
to  thy  felf  alone.  He  hath  loved  thee  in  common 
with  all  thy  Fellow-Creatures  j  He  hath  diftin- 
guifhed  thee  from  many  of  them  by  lingular  Blef- 
iings  >  he  hath  fhewed  the  fame  AffeQiion  to  thee 
with  all  good  Men  5  he  hath  preferred  thee  be- 
fore all  evil  Men  5  and  if  the  being  preferred  be- 
fore the  evil  feem  a  fmall  thing,  reflect  farther, 
how  very  many  good  Men  there  are ,  whofe  Blef- 
fings  yet  are  come  fir  lliort  of  thine. 


CHAP.    VL 

The  Mercies  of  Great  mi  and  Regeneration. 

^  I R  S  T   then,  my  Soul,    remember  that  there 

was  a  time  that  thou  wcrt  not  at  all,  and,  that 

tiiou  ever  didft  begin  to  be,  is  the  free  Gift  of  God. 
Thy  very  Being  then  is  an  inftance  of  his  Bounty. 
But  was  it  polliblc ,    that  before  thou  hadft  a  Be- 

I  4  ing, 


1x6  MEDITATIONS. 

ing,  thou  ihouldft  give  any  thing  to  God ,  which 
could  obhge  him  to  give  thee  that  Being,  by  way 
of  recompence  for  any  former  kindnefs  on  thy  part. 
No  certainly,  'Tis  manifeft  thou  didft  not,  couldft 
not  deferve  any  thing  at  his  Hands,  while  thou 
thy  felf  as  yet  wcrt  not  any  thing.  Had  then  his 
liberahty  flopped  there,  and  given  thee  Being  only  -, 
yet  this  fingle  Blefling  is  great  enough  to  challenge 
thy  continual  Praife  and  Love.  But  he  hath  given 
thee  a  great  deal  more  than  bare  Exifhence  5  by 
making  thee  a  beautiful  and  a  glorious  Creature. 
Nor  did  the  Munificence  of  this  noble  Benefa6tor 
content  it  felf  with  an  inferior  degree  of  Beauty, 
for  he  hath  wrought  thee  up  to  the  highefl  Perfec- 
tion, 'and  formed  thee  into  a  Refemblance  of  his 
own  divine  Excellencies.  Thus  hath  he  drawn 
thofe  Hearts  to  him  by  a  likenefs  of  Nature,  which 
he  had  attracted  by  the  Engagements  of  his  Love. 
He  gave  us  Being,  and  Beauty,  and  Life  j  that  by 
Exiltence  we  might  excel  thofe  things  that  are  not  5 
by  our  Form,  thofe  that  are  rude,  unfinifhed ,  or 
deformed  3  and  by  our  Life,  thofe  things  that  are 
inanimate.  How  deeply  then  art  thou  indebted, 
O  my  Soul ,  to  him ,  from  whom  thou  haft  re- 
ceived much,  when  yet  thou  hadft  nothing  of  thy 
own  J  and,  having  nothing  of  thy  own,  haft  no- 
thing in  thy  Power  to  make  requital  with,  but  on- 
ly to  love  him,  who  gave  thee  all  thou  haft?  For, 
in  recompence  of  that  which  was  given  thee,  out 
of  pure  love ,  thou  canft  not  make  any  Icfs,  thou 
canft  not  make  any  greater  return,  than  that  of 
loving  again.  And  evident  it  is,  that  there  could 
not  be  any  other  Inducement  for  beftowing  allthefe 
Benefits,  but  the  free  Love  of  God  alone. 

But  now  I  will  open  another  and  more  amazing 
Scene  of  kindnefs,  by  fhewing  thee,  how  low  this 
Lord  and  Spoufe  of  thine  -,  whofe  Majefty  fhone 
fo  glorioufly  bright  in  thy  Creation,  was  pleafed  to 
condefcend  in  the  Work  of  thy  Regeneration.    In 

the 


MEDITATIONS.  iz/ 


the  Former  he  appear'd  fo  high  and  noble,   in  the 
Latter  fo  little  and  fo  humble,  that  it  is  not  eafy  to 
determine,  whether  ofthefe  two  extremes  is  a  more 
worthy  Subject  of  thy  wonder  and  Praife.     In  the 
Former  his  Power  was  illuftrious ,   who  conferred 
fuch  glorious  Privileges  upon  thee  -,   in  the  Latter, 
his  Mercy  was  no  lefs  illuftrious,   who  fubmitted 
to  endure  fuch  bitter  things   for   thee:    That  he 
might  raife  thee  up  from  the  depth  of  Mifery,  into 
which  thou  hadft  funk  thy  felf,  himfelf  vouchfafed 
to  defcend  into  the  fame  Pit,   where  thou  layeft 
grovelling  and  unable  to  help  thy  felf:    And,  the 
Mifery  which  thou  didfl  then  fuftain,   he  was  con- 
tent in  Pity  to  undergo,  that  a  way  might  be  made 
for  Juftice  to  be  fatisfied  with  the  Reftitution  of 
the  Happinefs  thou  hadil  loft.     He  came  down,  he 
took  upon  himfelf,   he  endured,    he  vanquifhed, 
he  reftored.     He  came  down  from  the  Throne  of 
God  to  wretched  Mortals^   he  took  upon  himfelf 
Mortality,   he  endured  Affliction,   and  Pain,   and 
Ignominy  >    he   vanquifhed    Death ,     he   reftored 
Mankind.     Stand  ftill,  my  Soul,   and  with  a  holy 
aftonijfliment  gaze  on  the  Series  of  Wonders ,    this 
ineftimable  Complication   of  Mercies.      Confidcr 
the  greatnefs  of  his  Love,  who  did  not  grudge  to 
do  fo  much  for  thee :    He  made  thee  beautiful  at 
firft,   but  thou  haft  fully'd  and  deform'd   thy  felf 
by  Sin.     Notwithftanding  this  diihonour  done  to  the 
Charms  thou  hadft  received  from  him,   thy  Stains 
are  waihed  away,   and  the  Purity  of  thy  former 
Complexion    renewed    again,   by   his   marvellous 
Compaffion.     Thus  was  his  Love  the  fole  Caufe, 
both  of  the  Gift  at  firftj    and  of  its  Reftitution. 
When  thou  hadft  no  Being,  his  Love  created  thee: 
When  thou  hadft  defaced  his  glorious  Image,    his 
Love  refrelhed  the  ImprefTion ,  and  to  demonftrate 
how  exceedingly  he  loved  thee,   he  willingly  deli- 
vered thee  from  death,   when  that  could  be  done 
at  no  lefs  Expence,   than  the  laying  down  his  own 

LifCo 


iz8  MEDITATIONS, 

Life.  He  would  not  do  it  ut  a  cheaper  mtc,  that  (6 
the  Price  might  demoniirate  the  vehemence  of  his 
Affection,  no  lefs  than  the  valvie  of  the  advantages 
purchafed  with  it.     A  mighty  favour  no  doubt  it 
was,  that  the  iirll  Man  rcceive<i  from  his  merciful 
C  en .  I .     Creator,  w h  en  th e  breath  of  life  'izias  breathed  into  him^ 
3.6.  2. 7-    ^y^^i  j^^  heccrae  a  Vrcing  Soul^  like  the  God  who  made 
him.     But  how  much  greater  was  the  Condefccn- 
fion,  how  much  more  valuable  the  Blefling,   when 
for  the  Man  that  he  had  madc^    God  attenvards 
gave  himfelf  ?     I  acknowledge  it  a  great    ching, 
that  I  am  God's  handy-work,   and  own  the  Grati- 
tude due  upon  this  account  •,    but  fure  a  great  deal 
more  is  due,   v/hen  I  coniider,  that  God  was  plea- 
fed  to  make  himfelf  my  Ranibm.  For  thus  there  is 
fo  much  expended  upon  our  Redemption,  as  might 
almoil  incline  us  to  believe,  that  Man  is  a  valuable 
Conlideration   for    even   God   him.felf.      O    how 
flrangely  hath  light  fprung  out  of  darknefs  !    How 
happy  an  Event  was  my  Guilt  attended  with ,   for 
the  purging  whereof,   while  this  Love  of  my  Sa- 
viour difpoics  him,  that  Love  is  open'd  to  my  de- 
iires ,   and  if  I  do  but  give  him  my  Heart ,    1  am 
fecure  of  an  eaiy  Accefs  to ,    and  a  fure  Place  in 
his.      Had  my  Mifery  and  Danger  been   lefs,    I 
never   could    have   had   fo    noble  a  Proof  of  his 
Kindnefs.     Have  I  not  reafon  then  in  fome  refpcct 
to  blefs  that  Fall ,   from  which  I  rife  with  greater 
i\d vantage,    than  if  I  had  not  fallen  at  all?    No 
Kindnefs    could   be   more ,    none    more    fmcere , 
more  chaile,   more  fervent,    more  pailionately  ex- 
prcfs'd,    than  that  of  an  innocent  Perfon,   dying 
for  me,  who  had  no  Recommendation  to  deicrve , 
none  to  engage  his  Lo\'e.     What  was  it  then,    my 
deareit  Lord ,    that  thou  didil  love  in  Me?  What 
that  thou  lovedil  fo  much,   as  even  to  die  for  me? 
What  couldil;  thou    find  in    this    poor   wretched 
Creature,    worth  doing  ib  many  Miracles  of  Good- 
ncfs,    worth  fuiTering  fo  many  Injuries  and  Ago- 
nies ; 


MEDITATIONS.  129 


nies ',  for  I  am  perfectly  amazed  at  this  llupendi- 
ous  Difpenfation  >  and,  the  more  I  confider  either 
thee  or  my  felf,  the  lefs  I  find  my  fclf  able  to 
account  for  it. 


CHAP.    VII. 

The  Mercy  of  being  called  to  the  true  Faith. 

TH  E  merit  and  fafficiency  of  this  Redemption 
extend  to  all  Mankind,  but  the  means  ordi- 
narily neceflaiy  to  render  it  effeftual  are  not  di- 
llributed  with  an  even  hand.  Here  then,  my 
Soul  oblerve  and  be  thankful  for  a  difcrimination 
manifeftly  in  thy  favour.  For  hovx^  numerous , 
and  of  what  condition,  if  compared  to  thee,  are 
thofe  many,  who  have  not  the  precious  opportu- 
nities of  that  Grace  which  arc  allowed  to  thee  ? 
Thou  canil  not  but  have  heard  how  many  Gene- 
rations of  Men,  from  the  beginning  of  the  World 
down  to  this  very  day,  have  lived  and  died  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  3    how  many 

\  more  did  formerly,  how  many  even  now  periih 
e-ternally,  and  never  heard  one  Syllable  of  a  Re- 
demption purchafed  by  the  Blood  of  God.  All 
thefe  thy  Saviour  hath  diftinguifhed  thee  above, 
and  fignalized  his  love  in  granting  thofe  means  of 
Grace,  which  none  of  them  were  thought  worthy 
.  to  partake  of.  They  were  left  in  their  Ignorance, 
and  thou  art  taken  to  be  made  wife  unto  Salvation » 
But  for  this  difference  there  can  be  but  one  reafon 
ailigned,  which  is  the  fame  fo  often  inculcated 
alrcadv,  thy  Bleded  Mafter's  Love.     Thy  Spoufe, 

fe  thy  Friend,  thy  God,  thy  Redeemer,  cliofe  thee 
rather  than  them.  He  chofe  thee  among  all 
He  fmgled  thee  from  the  reft^  He  hath  giveii 
thee  all  poUible  Demonftrations  of  his  Kindneis. 
He  hath  called  thee  by  his  own  Name,    that  this 


130  MEDITATIONS. 

mark  and  memorial  might  reft  perpetually  upon 
thee  that  thou  mightelt  never  forget  to  whom  thou 
belongell  >  He  hath  not  given  thee  an  empty  name, 
but  all  the  advantages  imported  by,  and  accruing  \ 
from  it  j  he  hath  anointed  thee  with  the  fame 
oil  of  gladnefs^  with  which  himfelf  was  anointed, 
that  thou  mightefl  be  the  Anointed  of  the  Anoin- 
ted, and  from  Chrift^  denominated  in  the  mofl  be- 
neficial fenfe,  a  Chrijiian. 

But  whence  is  this  to  the  fervant  of  thy  Lord  j 
Didll:  thou  excel  in  Strength,  in  Wifdom,  or  No- 
ble Defcent,  in  Riches,  or  Virtue,  or  any  other 
Qualification,  which  might  entitle  thee  to  thisfpe- 
cial  Favour,  from  which  fo  many  others  are  ex- 
cluded ?  How  many  flrong,  how  many  wife,  how 
many  noble,  how  many  rich  Men  have  there  been 
who  yet  have  all  been  paft  over  and  rejecSted? 
This  therefore  is  another  Enchantment  of  thy  Fa- 
vour, that  They,  notwithflanding  all  their  pom^ 
pous  pretenfions,  were  not  admitted  to  the  like  pri- 
vileges with  Thee,  who  hadft  them  not  to  al- 
ledge  in  thy  behalf.  Thou  wert  miferable  and 
deformed,  naked  and  poor,  diffolute  and  finful, 
an  object  of  Abhorrence  and  Deteflation,  yet  did 
not  thy  God  difdain  thee,  but  even  in  thefe  wretch-  ^ 
ed,  thefe  forbidding  Circum fiances ,  extended  to 
thee  the  riches  of  this  marvellous  compaflion  and 
grace.  And  now,  my  Soul,  that  thou  hafl  feen 
thy  happine{s,  fee  alfo  what  thy  duty  is  refulting 
from  the  fenfe  of  it.  For  be  afllired,  that  not- 
withflanding all  thefe  kind  Advances,  if  thou  do 
not  make  it  thy  conllant  care  and  mofl  earneft 
endeavour  to  deck  and  adorn  thy  felf  as  becomes 
thee,  thou  fhalt  not  be  admitted  into  the  embraces, 
of  thy  heavenly  Spoufe.  Set  then  about  this  ne- 
cefTary  Work,  while  thou  hafl  time  j  for  now  is 
the  proper  feafon  of  drefTmg  thy  felf  for  the  Mar- 
riage. Abate  thy  too  follicitous  Concern  for  the 
outward  appearance  of  thy  Body,  and  employ  aU 

thy 


MEDITATION  S.  131 


thy  pains  upon  thy  inward  Man ,  fet  off  thy  Face 
in  the  beft  manner  j  let  thy  habit  be  clean  and 
comely,  thy  Spots  wafhed  off,  thy  Complexion 
clear,  thy  Decays  and  Blemifhes  refrefhed,  thy  Air 
modeft  and  graceful,  thy  Deportment  orderly  5 
and  let  it  be  thy  chief,  thy  only  Bufmefs,  fo  to 
prepare  and  fit  thy  felf  for  thy  Lord's  Approach, 
that  the  figure  thou  makefl  may  be  fuitable  to  thy 
Charader,  and  become  the  Chaftity,  the  Majefty 
of  one  who  hath  the  honour  of  being  a  Bride  to 
an  immortal  Hufband,  a  heavenly  King. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

Of  the  Communications  of  "Divine  Grace. 

NOR  let  thy  Poverty  difcourage  thee,  as  if  I 
now  advifed  to  an  impoflible  undertaking  5 
For  This  is  yet  a  farther  Inftance  of  thy  Lord's 
Love,  that  he  furniihes  thee  with  fuch  Qrnaments, 
as  he  likes  to  fee  thee  in,  and  fuch  as  could  not  be 
procured  any  where  elfe,  did  not  his  Bounty  fup- 
ply  thee  with  them.  From  him  alone  it  is,  that 
thou  art  put  into  a  condition  of  being  cloathed 
with  good  Works,  adorned  with  Alms-deeds,  and 
Watchings,  and  Failings,  and  other  acceptable  in- 
flances  of  Piety  and  Devotion.  All  which,  like 
Garments  of  the  richeft  Materials,  and  mod  de- 
lightful Colours,  make  up  the  Drefs,  and  fet  off 
the  Beauties  of  a  heavenly  Soul.  Whatever  is  ne- 
ceflary  for  thy  health,  whatever  for  thy  refrefh- 
ment  and  delight,  whatever  can  reftore  loft  beauty, 
or  add  to  the  gracefulnefs  of  that  which  thou  al- 
ready haft,  thou  need'ft  not  wantj  for  he  hath 
Plenty  of  all,  and  diftvibutes  his  Stores  liberally. 
See  now  what  a  noble  Provifion  is  made  for  thee, 
and  how  abundant  Care  hath  been  taken  for  the 
relief  of  all  thv  necefilties.     At  firft  thou  wertpof- 

fefled 


iSZ  MEDITATIONS. 

fcfled  of  nothing,    and  he  imparted  to  thee  what 
was  fitting  :  This  gift  through  thy  default  was  loll, 
and  he  reflored  it  to  thee  ^  Thus  art  thou  never 
forfaken  in  any  of  thy  diftrejfTes  -,  to  convince  thee 
how  generous,    how  boundlefs  an  AfFe6i:ion   thy 
Lover  bears  to  thee.     He  will  not  lofe  thee  5  and 
therefore   he   waits   with   great  Patience   for  thy 
better  Refolutions,   and  in  much  Pity  grants  thee 
frequent   opportunities   of   recovering    again   and 
again  thofe  precious  Advantages,  which  through 
thy   ov/n  CarelelFnefs    were    often   forfeited    and 
gone.     So  that  in  all  this  matter,  this  remarkable 
Difference   defeives   to   be   thankfully   confidcred, 
that  all  the  Damage  thou  fuftaineft  is  entirely  from 
thy  felf,  but  all  the  Recruits  of  it  are  entirely  from 
Him.     AndO!    how  many  are  there,  who  once 
received   the   fame  Advantages  with  Thee  j    but 
though  equally  favoured  in  the  Gift  at  firfl,   yet 
were  deny'd  the  Privilege  of  having  them  reflored 
when  loft,  which  thou  hafl  had  fo  very  often  re- 
peated, by  a  particular  Indulgence  of  thy  gracious 
God  to  thee  above  others  ?    The  Grace  of  doing 
well  was  never  deny'd  thee,   when  thou  wert  as 
feady  to  receive  and  improve,   as  he  conflantly  is 
to  give  it.     And,  if  thou  become  an  inllrument  of 
great  Good,  it  is  his  Mercy  that  exalts  thee  to  this 
high  pitch  of  Virtue :  But  if  thou  find  great  Diffi- 
culties, and  canfl  not  attain  to  the  perfe6lion  thou 
laboured:  after,  and  eagerly  deiirell,  yet  this  fhould 
be  efleem'd   an   efFe6t   of    Mercy   too.     For  He 
knows  befl  what  is  convenient  for  thee,   and  will 
make  a  more  advantageous  choice  than  thou  canil 
for   thy  felf.      And   therefore   the  way  alway    to 
think  well  and  worthily  of  God,  is  to  be  throughly 
pcrfuaded,    that  whatever  he  does  with  thee  and 
thy  Afl&irs,   is  wife  and  good.     For  fuch  is  the 
Love  of  God  towards  us,   that  there  is  not  any 
one  Trial,    which   Humane   Nature  labours  un- 
der^   not  any  one  Infirmity,   to  which  it  is  fub- 

jeft, 


MEDITATIONS.  133 

^ect,  not  any  Event  that  befals  any  one  of  us  j 
but  He  in  his  infinite  Goodnefs,  and  fo  far  as  we 
do  not  obdrudl  his  gracious  Intentions  of  Kind- 
ncfs,  difpofes  it  to  our  Advantage.  It  may  be, 
thou  hall  not  the  Grace  of  an  eminent  and  ftcady 
Virtue  'y  but,  while  the  Storms  of  Temptation 
fhake  thee,  that  Inconvenience  is  compenfated  by 
thy  HumiUty  taking  deeper  root.  And  Humihty 
with  an  x\llay  of  Frailties  and  Faihngs,  is  more  ac- 
ceptable to  Almighty  God,  than  virtuous  Actions 
puffed  up  with  Vain-glory,  and  Spiritual  Pride, 
when  therefore  thou  obfervell  any  Difpenfation  of 
Providence,  do  not  prefume  to  think  that  fomc 
other  method,  or  event,  would  have  been  better ; 
but  fear  his  Maicfly,  reverence  his  Wifdom,  and 
make  thy  Prayers  to  him,  with  a  Mind  entirely 
refigned  to  his  Will.  Imploring  his  Protection  and 
AfHltance,  in  fuch  meafures  of  Grace,  as  he  knows 
fitteft  for  thee  >  that,  if  there  be  any  Remains  of 
Evil  in  thee,  his  Mercy  would  take  them  clear  a- 
way>  that,  whatever  good  inclinations  or  begin- 
nings he  fees  in  thee,  he  would  promote  and  bring 
them  to  due  Perfection  5  and  in  a  word,  that  he 
v^ould  at  lall  bring  thee  to  himfelf,  by  fuch  a  way 
as  he  fhall  find  mofl  agreeable  to  his  own  wife 
purpofes.  For,  fo  thou  do  but  attain  the  end,  the  . 
means  are  what  thou  needed:  not  be  very  folicitous 
about.  That  is  the  proper  object  of  thy  Defiresj 
but  when  thou  extended  thy  Delires  to  thefe  too, 
they  then  exceed  their  juit  Bounds,  and,  if  too 
anxious,  take  upon  them  to  preicribe  to  Provi- 
dence, in  things  which  God  hath  refen'ed  to  his 
own  free  Difpofal. 


CHAP, 


134  MEDITATIONS. 


CHAP.    IX. 

The  Mercy  of  InflniEiton  and  Illumination. 

AN  D  now,  my  Soul,  I  muft  afk  thee  again  and 
again.  What  Jhall  we  render  to  the  Lord  our 
God^  for  the  innumerable  benefits  he  hath  done  unto  us  ? 
Of  which  that  thou  mayeft  take  another  Profpe6i:, 
confider,  that  he  does  not  only  give  us  caufe  to 
thank  him  for  the  fame  good  things  which  he  be- 
ftows  upon  others,  but  makes  the  very  Evils  that 
befal  us.  Experiments  of  his  exceeding  great  love, 
that  we  in  like  manner  might  be  moved  to  love  him 
exceedingly,  whether  we  refle6t  upon  the  Good 
we  enjoy,  or  the  Evil  we  endure.  Thou,  Lord, 
haft  had  compaflion  on  my  Ignorance  and  Blind- 
nefs  5  and  by  my  Mifery  magnified  thy  Merey,  in 
bringing  me  to  the  knowledge  of  Thee  and  thy 
Truth  :  and  granted  me  a  clearer  underfbandi ng 
in  the  dark  and  difficult  PalTages  of  thy  revealed 
Will,  than  many  others  have  arrived  at.  Some  of 
my  equals  in  years  and  natural  abilities,  thou  fuffer- 
eft  Hill  to  continue  in  Ignorance  and  Error,  but 
My  eyes  haft  thou  enlightened  with  thy  grace,  and 
thereby  made  me  wifer  than  the  aged.  Thou  haft 
endued  me  with  ftrong  faculties,  a  large  capacity, 
a  quick  apprehenfion,  a  faithful  memory.  Thou 
giveft  fuccefs  to  my  undertakings,  agreeablenefs  in 
converfation ,  improvement  by  my  ftudies,  com- 
fort in  my  adverfity,  protedtion  in  my  profperity : 
Which  way  foever  I  go,  thy  Grace  prevents  and 
follows  me  >  and  many  times,  when  I  have  given 
my  felf  for  loft.  Thou  haft  by  fome  fudden  and 
furprizing  turn  of  Mercy  delivered  me  from  iny 
calamities  and  my  fears.  When  I  went  wrong, 
thou  haft  brought  me  back  and  guided  me  in  the 

I  right 


MEDITATIONS.  13J 

right  way  ^  when  I  ofFended,  thou  haft  reproved 
and  challened  me  j  When  I  was  in  heavincfs, 
thou  haft  rupported[my  Spirits  j  When  I  fell,  thou 
haft  fet  me  up  again  5  When  I  ftood,  thou  up- 
heldft  me  :  Thou  didft  enable  me  to  know  thee 
more  truly,  to  believe  in  thee  more  ftedfaftly,  to 
love  thee  more  vehemently,  to  follow  thee  more 
eagerly.  And  now,  O  Lord  my  God,  the  joy  of 
my  Life,  the  light  of  my  Eyes,  what  requital  fhall 
I  make  thee  for  all  thy  ineftimable  mercies?  Thou 
commandeft  me  to  love  thee,  but  how  can  I  ever 
love  thee  enough?  Nay,  who  am  I  indeed  that 
thou  ihouldft  defire  or  accept  of  my  love  ? .  For 
Thou,  Lord,  art  my  ftrength  and  my  Caftle,  my 
Deliverer  and  my  Refuge,  my  Helper  and  Pro- 
te61:or,  the  Horn  of  my  Salvation,  m.y  Support, 
my  All  'y  and,  in  a  word,  for  that  comprehends 
the  whole  of  what  I  can  fay  or  think.  Thou,  O 
Lord,  art  my  God  >  and  whatever  I  have,  or  can 
do,  or  am,  is  of  Thee,  and  in  Thee,  and  by 
Thee. 


CHAP.    X. 

God's  tender  Care^  andconfiant  Trefence  with  us. 

STill  I  muft  repeat  my  grateful  acknowledgment, 
that  the  Bleftings  I  have  received  from  Thee 
are  great  beyond  meafure,  and  many  beyond  num- 
ber, of  thefe  it*  fhall  be  my  moft  delightful  En- 
tertainment always  to  be  talking  5  And,  Lord,  I 
befeech  thee,  grant  me  a  mind  truly  thankful,  that 
my  mouth  may  be  ever  full  of  thy  praife,  and  my 
heart  overflov/"  with  thy  love,  for  thy  infinite 
goodnefs  to  me.  Thou  feeft,  my  Soul,  what  noble 
pledges  thou  haft,  and  thefe  Pledges  fufficiently 
declare  the  Affection   of  that  Spoufe,   who  gave 

K  them 


i3<^ 


MEDITATIONS. 


them.  Take  care  then  to  preferve  thy  Charity 
and  Fidelity  entire.  Let  no  impure  Defires,  no 
adulterous  Luft  pollute  or  divide  thy  afFe6tion  5  but 
keep  thee  only  unto  Him  to  the  lail  Moment  of 
thy  life.  If  thou  wert  formerly  an  Harlot,  yet  now 
thy  virgin  Innocence  is  reilored.  For  fuch  is  the 
Excellence  of  his  wonderful  Love,  that  it  reftores 
purity  to  them  that  had  loll  it,  and  prefcrves  it  un- 
blcmifhed  to  them  who  are  careful  to  retain  it.  Let 
then  the  greatnefs  of  his  Mercy  never  jdip  out  of 
thy  Mind,  but  confider  how  tenderly  he  loves 
thee,  who  never  was  wanting  to  thee  in  any  de- 
monftration  of  his  kindnefs  which  thy  condition 
required.  I  cannot  but  confeis,  when  I  refle6t  upon 
the  conftant  prefence,  and  the  abundance  of  his 
Mercies  towards  me,  that  I  am  almoil  tempted  to 
fay,  that  my  Salvation  is  his  only  bufinefs  and  care. 
For  fure  he  could  not  be  more  tender  of  my  fafety, 
more  ready  to  relieve  all  my  diftreffes,  to  comfort 
all  my  forrows,  to  fupply  all  my  wants,  to  guard  me 
in  all  my  dangers,  could  he  be  fuppofed  to  over- 
look the  exigencies  of  all  his  other  creatures,  and 
confine  his  good  Providence  to  Me  alone.  So^ 
watchful  does  he  fhew  himfelf  over  all  my  affairs, 
fo  ever  prefent  to,  nay,  ever  preventing  my  earli- 
efl  Wifhes.  Wherefocver  I  go,  he  forfakes  me 
not>  wherefoever  I  am^  he  Hands  by  me  5  what- 
soever I  do,  he  fbrengthens  and  fuccours  me  5  He 
is  a  confhant  Obferver  of  all  my  Behaviour  5  and 
fuch  is  his  goodnefs,  that  whatever  commendable 
Attempts  I  make,  he.  works  together  with  me  in 
them,  and  by  the  fuccefs  which  I  attain  gradually, 
fhews  me  that  he  condefcends  to  work,  not  accord- 
ing to  the  efficacy  of  his  own  Almighty  Power, 
but  in  proportion  to  my  weak  capacity.  Thefe 
Inftances^make  it  indifputably  clear,  that  though 
the  imperfection  of  our  prefent  ftate  will  not  allow 
us  to  fee  his  face,  yet  we  cannot  be  fo  flupidly 
blind,  as  not  to  be  fenlible  of  his  prefence*  A  pre- 
i  fence, 


MEDITATIONS.  137 


fence,  which  can  no  more  be  concealed ,  than  it 
can  be  avoided. 

•  But  while  my  thoughts  are  engaged  upon  this 
Subje6t,  I  feel  a  new  and  unufual  Pleafure,  that 
make  fuch  ftrong ,  fuch  delightful  ImprefHons ,  as 
fecm  to  tranfport  and  carry  me  out  of  my  ielE 
Methinks  I  am  in  an  inftant  chang'd ,  and  become 
quite  another  Creature,  and  Joys  come  flowing  in 
upon  me,  more  exquiiite  than  I  am  able  to  exprels. 
My  Confcicnce  is  all  over  ratisfa6tion  j  the  anguifh 
of  my  pall:  Sufferings  is  quite  fwallowed  up ,  and 
not  fo  much  as  a  troublefome  remembrance  of  them 
left  behind.  My  Mind  is  enlarged,  my  Underftand- 
ing  clear  and  bright,  my  Heart  and  its  Affe6]:ions 
enlightned  and  purify'd  j  all  my  Defircs  filled  with 
plealiire,  and  my  Soul  is  perfect  rapture  and  triumph. 
I  am  no  longer  here  methinks,  but  tranilated  y  J 
know  not  how,  nor  whither,  to  fome  unknown 
Region  of  Blifs  -,  I  embrace,  as  it  were,  with  a  mofc 
ardent  Love,  fome  dear  Objeft  with  which  I  am 
not  yet  perfe61:ly  acquainted :  I  hold  him  fail: ,  and 
ftrive  all  I  can  never  to  part  with  him  more  -,  but 
flill  it  is  with  a  fort  of  delightful  difficulty,  that  I 
llruggle  not  to  let  that  break  from  me ,  which  of 
all  things  I  wifh  to  keep  for  ever  in  my  Arms.  For 
in  him  my  Soul  feems  to  have  found  the  comple- 
ment and  end  of  all  her  defires.  This  Thought 
creates  that  eager  and  inexpreffible  tranfport  of 
Joyj;  that  fhe  feeks  nothing,  covets  nothing  be- 
yond it  y  but  would  eilcem  her  happinefs  compleat^ 
could  fhe  continue  always  to  be  as  now  fhe  is. 
What  can  this  delicious  Objeft  be,  that  poiirs  in 
fuch  a  torrent  of  rapturous  and  uncorrupted  plea-^ 
fure?  Is  it  my  Beloved?  Undoubtedly  it  can  be 
none  but  he.  'Tis  thus  my  Lord  vouchfafes  to 
vifit  me.  Me  comes  in  fecret,  not  to  be  feen,  not 
to  be  difcern'd  by  any  of  my  Senfes.  He  comes  to 
touch  me,  but  not  to  fhew  me  his  Face.  He  comes 
to  put  me  in  mind  of  him,   but  not  to  let  me  per- 

K  2,  feclly 


138 


MEDITATIONS. 


feftly  underftand  him.  He  comes  to  me  to  give 
me  a  tafte  of  his  fweetnefs,  but  not  to  give  me  his 
whole  felf  >  to  gratify  my  defires,  but  not  to  be- 
llow upon  me  the  fuhicfs  of  his  Excellencies. 
However,  this  is  what  my  condition  will  admit, 
what  I  ought  to  receive  with  all  the  thanks  and 
gladneis  poilible  :  for  it  is  an  aflured  foretafte  of 
heaven,  an  inviolable  earneft  and  token  of  his 
marrying  me  to  himfelf.  And  blefled,  ever  blefled 
be  thy  mercy,  for  thefe  afTurances,  thefe  comfor- 
table antepafts  of  future  happinefs :  Thou,  Lord^ 
art  good  and  gracious,  and  canfl  not  worthily  be 
praifed,  for  thofe  fupporting  confolations,  where- 
by Thou,  who  haft  promifed,  that  my  Soul  fhall 
have  a  diftin6t  view  and  full  pofTeflion  of  thee  here- 
after, doft  convince  her,  how  fweet  that  enjoyment, 
and  how  precious  the  promifes  of  it  are,  by  con- 
defcending  to  give  her  a  tafte  of  thee  here. 


CHAP.    XL 

The  Benefit  of  our  Bodily  SenfeSy  and  the  Tre- 
fervation  of  our  Lives. 

HOW  fervently  then  oughteft  thou,  my  Soul, 
to  love  this  good  God,  who  hath  been  fo 
exceeding  kind  to  thee !  Nor  am  I  yet,  or  ever 
fhould  I  be  at  an  end,  did  I  undertake  to  recount 
all  his  Benefits.  But,  to  keep  clofe  to  what  thou 
canft  not  fure  but  feel  and  fee  daily  and  hourly, 
^t  Ihall  be  next  my  endeavour  to  kindle  and  fan 
this  divine  flame,  by  putting  thee  in  mind  of  fuch 
as  thou  carrieft  about  with  thee,  and  art  thy  felf  a 
living  monument  of.  Confider  then,  what  Praife, 
what  Thanks,  what  devout  Zeal  are  due  to  Him, 
who  converted  the  Defires  of  my  Parents,  which, 
fincc  the  Corruption  of  humane  Nature,  are  tainted 
I  and 


MEDITATIONS.  1:^9 

and  debafed  with  an  allay  of  Impurity,  to  a  profi- 
table purpole ;  and  made  ufe  of  thefe  for  creating 
me  of  their  Subftancej  who  breathed  into  me  the 
Breath  of  Life,  brought  me  to  juft  maturity  for 
Birth ,  and  put  a  difference  between  me  and  thole, 
which,  perifhing  by  untimely  Abortions,  or  flrang- 
led  at  the  gate  of  the  Womb ,  feem  to  have  been 
conceiv'd  for  Death  rather  than  Life.  It  is  of  his 
Mercy  alone,  that  I  am  >  it  is  a  yet  more  valuable 
effe£b  of  the  fame  Mercy  that  I  am  a  Man  >  that  I 
was  endued  with  an  underllanding  Spirit,  which 
makes  a  very  advantageous  diftinftion  between  me 
and  Brntes.  To  the  fame  Mercy  I  owe  the 
comely  Form  of  this  Body,  and  the  perfe6l  Ufe  of 
thofe  feveral  Organs  of  Senfe,  fo  commodioufly 
plac'd  in  it.  Hence  I  have  Eyes  for  feeing.  Ears 
for  hearing ,  Noflrils  for  fmelhng.  Hands  for 
handling,  a  Palate  for  tailing,  Feet  for  walking  j 
and,  which  crowns  all  the  reft,  a  healthful  Con- 
llitution  for  my  unfpeakable  Eafe  and  Comfort. 
And  is  not  this  another  moft  wonderful  inftance 
of  goodnefs,  that  God  hath  made  fuch  plentiful 
Provifion  for  the  Service,  the  Entertainment,  the 
Delight  of  the  Senfes  j  and  fuited  Objects  lb  to 
the  Organs ,  that  each  is  proportibn'd  to  the  ufe 
and  convenience  of  that  Senfe,  which  it  was  de- 
fign'd  to  gratify  and  minifter  unto  ?  That  there 
are  many  bright  Bodies ,  many  delightful  Sounds, 
many  fweet  Smells,  many  grateful  Reliihes,  many 
things  that  pleafingly  affe6t  the  Touch.  For  this, 
no  doubt,  the  good  Providence  of  God  had  in  view, 
when  he  infufed  fuch  different  Qualities  into  the 
Bodies  created  by  him,  that  there  fliould  be  no 
Senfe  of  Man,  which  from  thence  might  not  find 
a  delight  peculiar  to  it.  And  thus  we  fee,  that 
Sight  is  qualified  to  perceive  one  fort  of  Obje6ts  -, 
Hearing,  another  ;  Tafting,  another j  and  the 
Touch  a  different  kind  from  all  the  former.  The 
Beauty  of  Colours  feeds  the  Sight  j    the  Harmony 

K3  of 


I40  ME  D  I  T  A  T  I  O  N  S. 


of  Sounds  delights  our  Ears,  the  Fragrancy  of  Per- 
fumes entertams  our  Smell,   and  the  deUcious  Re- 
lifhes  our  Taile.     And  who  can  exprefs  the  vaft 
variety  of  ImpreiHons,   with  which  our  Senfes  are 
gratefully  wrought   upon  ?     Thcfe  are  fo  many  , 
and  fo  different  in  each  Senfe  fingly,   that  if  any 
one  be  confidered  apart ,   one  would  think  Provi- 
dence had  made  it  its  Bufinefs ,   to  contrive  Plen- 
ty  of  -  Amufements   and  Pleafures   for   that   alone. 
There  is  fo  in^xprelTible  a  Beauty   refuking  from' 
the  Divevfity  of  Cdloui's  to  pleafe  the  Eye,  and  fo 
many  charming  founds  of  different  forts  to  delight 
the  Ear  3  fach  a  vaft  ufefiilnefs  attending  thcfe  that; 
are  articulate,   whereby  Men   without   any   difH-^ 
culty  communicate  their  Thoughts  to  one  another, 
relate  things   already  paft,    diicourfe   of  the  pre- 
fent,  predict  the  future,  .  and  difclofe  thofe  that  are 
fecret ,    and  muft   otherwife  continue   unknown  , 
that  if  Mankind  were  left  deftitute  of  thefe  conve- 
niencies,   their  life,  would  be  but  very  little  better 
than  Beafts.      If  now   to   all   the   Advantages   of 
Speech  I  iliould  add  thofe  other  Entertainments  of 
this  Senfe ,   which  refult*  from  the  Choirs  of  Birds 
abroad,   or  from  the  Melody  of  humane  Voices, 
or  from  thofe  Improvements  and  Imitations  of  na-* 
tural  Mufick  by  Art  and  Inftruments  •,   it  muft  be 
allowed  me,  that  the  feveral  kinds  of  harmony  are 
of  infinite  Variety  j    of  fo  great  indeed  they  are, 
that  the  Wit  of  Man  cannot  conceive  all  the  parti- 
cular kinds ,   nor  words  explain  and  defcribe  them 
diftinftly.     And  yet  all  thefe  are  contrived  for  the 
fervice  and  delight  of  the  Ear.     So  nobly  is  this 
lingle  Senfe  provided  for.     A  great  deal  might  be 
faid  to  the  fame  purpofe,   concerning  the  Objefc 
pleafurable  to  the  talle  and  the  touch.    But  the  re- 
femblance  between  the  cafe  of  thefe  and  the  for- 
mer is  fo  great,   that  my  Reader  may  eafily  make 
his  obfervations  upon  them,   by  what  hath  already 
been  faid  concerning  thole. 

And, 


MEDITATIONS.  141 


And,  as  our  Senfes,  and  a  right  difpofition  of 
the  Organs  which  ferve  them,  is  a  very  valuable 
Bleffing,  fo  is  it  Hkewife,  that  our  Limbs  have  all 
their  due  Place  and  Figure  >  that  no  part  of  our 
Body  is  fo  diftorted,  or  defc6live,  as  to  be  painful 
to  our  felves,  or  to  make  our  deformity  a  fubje<5b, 
either  of  Melancholy  to  our  Friends  or  Relations , 
or  of  jeft  and  fcorn  to  Strangers.  But,  which  is 
yet  of  higher  Importance,  within  this  Body  fo 
commodioufly  ordered,  I  have  a  glorious  Inhabi- 
tant >  an  underffcanding  Spirit  >  capable  of  difcern- 
ing  and  receiving  the  Truth  >  of  dillinguifhing  be- 
tween right  and  wrong,  good  and  evil  j  nay, 
which  tends  more  to  its  happinefs  and  perfe61:ion, 
qualified  to  feek  and  find  its  Creator,  to  defire 
and  gafp  after  him ,  to  praife  and  cleave ,  and  be 
united  to  him ,  by  the  cement  of  a  moft  ardent 
and  inviolable  Love.  Another  great  inftance  of 
God's  goodnefs  to  me,  I  acknowledge  it,  that  I 
was  referv'd  for  the  glorious  tim.es  of  the  Gofpelj 
born  in  a  Country,  where  his  holy  Truth  is  pro- 
fefled  ',  and  among  fuch  Friends  as  took  effc(5]:u- 
al  care  to  inftru6i:  and  eftabhili  me  in  the  Faith, 
and  make  me  a  partaker  of  the  blefled  Sacraments. 
This  is  a  Mercy  which  vafl:  numbers  of  People 
have  not  enjoyed,  and  therefore  I  have  flill  the 
great  Reafon  to  be  thankful  for  it  3  fince  their 
condition*  and  mine  are  in  other  refpcfts  the  fame  5 
nor  can  I  boafl  of  any  Qualification  that  fhould 
•give  me  the  Preference,  or  recommend  me  to  fo 
lingular  a  Favour,  which  hath  not  been  in  like 
manner  extended  to  them.  The  fumm  and  fole 
Account  of  fo  diftin^uifhins;  a  Providence  is  this, 
that  God  was  juft  in  leaving  them ,  but  cxceedmg 
gracious  in  calling  me.  Nor  ought  I  upon  this  oc- 
cafion  to  forget  to  thank  God,  that  he  was  pleafed 
to  fpare  rriy  Parent's  Life ,  till  the  great  bufinefs  ox 
my  Education  v/as  finifh'd ;  That  the  care  of  m'e 
was  not  turn'd  over  to  them  who  could  not  have 

K  4  the 


I4Z  MEDITATIONS. 


the  fame  tendemefs  and  natural  Affection  for  me  -, 
that  I  efcap'd  the  many  dreadful  difailers,  which 
fome  others  did,  and  I  was  equally  liable  to  fuf- 
fer  by :  that  the  Fire  hath  never  burnt  nor  disfi- 
gured me,  nor  the  Water  fwallowed  me  up  -,  that 
Evil  Spirits  were  never  permitted  to  torment  me  3 
that  God  hath  fhut  the  Mouths  of  the  Bcafts  of 
Prey,  guarded  me  from  their  Violence ,  kept  me 
back  from  many  a  dangerous  Precipice ,  and  pre- 
ferv'd  me  from  falls ,  and  pits ,  lofTes  or  raaimings 
of  Limbs,  to  which  the  giddinefs  of  Childhood, 
and  the  heat  and  folly  of  Youth  are  perpetually 
expos'd :  and,  laftly,  that  I  was  bred  up  all  along 
in  the  true  Faith  and  Obedience  of  him ,  and  his 
Will ,  till  I  arriv'd  at  Years  of  Difcretion ,  and 
made  that  Service  of  God  my  Act  and  Choice, 
which  I  was  difpos'd  to  before  by  the  happy  pre- 
pofleffions  infus'd  into  me  by  others. 


CHAP.    XII. 

Go(^s  Long-ftiffenng  and  Mercy  which  preferv'd 
us  from y  and  forgave  us  after^  the  Commifji- 
.  on  of  Sin, 

SO  gfeat,  fo  numerous,  O  Lord  my  God,  are 
the  Proofs  which  thou  hall  given  me  of  thy 
marvellous  Love !  But,  though  1  praife  and  adore 
thy  Majeity  for  all  thy  wondrous  works,  yet  art 
thou  more  juftly  to  be  admir'd  for  none,  than  for 
thofe  A<5ts  of  Goodnefs  and  tender  Pity,  which 
plainly  fpcak  the  molt  enlarg'd  Bowels  of  our  Hea- 
venly Father's  paternal  Affection,  to  his  unworthy 
and  rebellious  Children.  Thefe  are  fo  unbounded, 
as  to  reach  all  without  diltin6tion.  For  thou  defpif- 
eft  no  Man,  cafteit  off  no  Man,  abhorrelt  no  Man, 
except  fuch  only  as  by  their  own  incorrigible  folly 

havQ 


MEDITATIONS.  143 

have  given  thee  provocation,  by  firffc  forfaking, 
and  contemning  thee.  And  therefore  I,  O  Lord, 
in  particular,  muft  own,  that  I  have  many  Mer- 
cies, and  much  Indulgence  of  this  kind  to  love 
and  thank  thee  for.  For  thou  haft  frequently 
refcu'd  me  from  dangers  which  had  hemm'd  me 
in  on  every  fide ,  and  left  me  no  power  to  efcape, 
by  any  Strength  or  Prudence  of  my  own.  When 
I  was  engag'd  in  finful  Aftions,  thou  didft  not 
leave  me  to  perifh  in  them :  When  I  forgot  thee, 
thou  didft  refrefh  my  Memory :  When  I  was  fal- 
ling off  from  thee,  thou  didft  recal  and  bring  me 
home  again :  When  I  return'd  in  obedience  to  that 
Call,  thou  didft  receive  and  meet  me  with  open 
Arms  'y  And  when  my  Soul  was  wounded  Vs^ith 
grief  for  my  former  TranfgrcfHons ,  thou  didft 
comfort  my  Sorrows,  pardon  my  Offences,  accept 
my  Repentance ,  and  fpeak  Peace  to  my  troubled 
Mind.  Nay,  I  fhould  detra6t  from  the  greatneis 
of  thy  Mercy,  in  acknowledging  the  benefit  of  fo 
gracious  a  Pardon,  for  my  paft  actual  Tranfgreflions 
only :  Since  it  is  of  the  fame  Mercy  alone,  that 
not  only  the  Crimes  really  committed  by  me ,  but 
all  thofe  too,  which  I  fhould  have  committed,  had 
not  thy  Grace  and  good  Providence  reftrain'd  and 
protected  me,  are  not  fuffer'd  to  enflame  my 
reckoning  at  the  laft  terrible  Day  of  Account. 
For,  as  I  do  with  Shame  and  deep  Remorfe  con- 
fefs ,  that  the  Sins  I  have  fallen  into  are  many  and 
grievous  >  fo  I  am  fadly  fenfible  of  my  own  weak- 
nefs  and  frailty ,  and ,  that  my  faults  would  have 
far  exceeded  what  they  now  have  done ,  had 
not  thy  watchful  care  and  goodnefs  prefeived 
me. 

Now  there  are  three  ways  ,  which  I  plainly 
perceive  thou  haft  made  ufe  of  to  this  purpofe  -, 
and  each  hath  greatly  contributed  to  my  fafetVa 
Thefe  are,  the  removal  of  the  occafion,  the  power 
of  Refiftance,   and  the  integrity  of  my  Will  and 

Affeftions. 


144  MEDITATIONS. 


Aifccftions.  For^;  without  all  difpute,  I  had  been 
very  frequently  enrnared  in  Sin,  had  Temptations 
and  Opportunities  offered  themfelvcs  thicker  to 
me  'y  but  the  good  Providence  of  God  fo  ordered 
the  matter,  that  many  times  I  had  no  evil  Sug- 
geflions  prompting  me  to  Wickednefs,  nor  any 
Opportunity  given  the  Tempter  for  an  AiTault. 
Again,  I  have  frequently  found  my  felf  attacked 
with  great  Violence  j  but  thou,  OLord,  hall  come 
to  my  Succour,  and  poured  in  freili  Recruits  of 
Grace  and  Strength,  whereby  I  was  enabled  to 
get  the  mallery  over  my  Appetites ,  and  obftinately 
to  hold  out  the  Siege ,  againil  the  treachery  of  my 
own  corrupt  Lufts,  which  would  have  betrayed  and 
undermined  me  y  and  all  the  fury  of  the  Temptet*, 
who  laboured  to  ftorm  the  fort  of  my  Soul.  But 
fome  fins  again  there  have  been,  which  thy  mercy, 

0  Lord,  hath  kept  me  at  fo  great  a  diftance  from-, 
that  I  perfectly  abhorred  the  very  thoughts  of  them  j 
and,  never  found  my  felf  fo  much  as  molefted  with 
any  temptation  to  contract  fo  black  and  dctellable 
a  Guilt. 

O  that  this  had  been  the  cafe  with  me  in  all 
things,  that  offend  the  God  of  purer  Eyes  than  to 
behold  Iniquity  !  But,  where  it  was  not,  I  have 
not  wanted  plentiful  Experience  of  thy  Goodnefs 
and  Companion.  For  alas !  my  God,  my  Confci- 
ence  reproaches  me  w^ith  having  too  often  and 
too heinouilydifpleafed  thy  divine Majefly.  Wretch 
that  I  am,  I  have  behaved  my  felf  unfeemly  in 
thy  prefence,  I  have  done  amifs  and  dealt  wick- 
edly, provoked  thy  Anger,  and  deferved  the  hot- 
teil  of  thy  Vengeance.  I  have  j:ranfgreffed ,  and 
thou  haft  born  with  it.  I  have  finned  long  and 
pei-verfly,   and  ftill  thou  fuffereft  me  to.  live.      If 

1  repent  thou  fpareft  me,  if  I  return  thou  received: 
me  gladly.  Nay,  even  while  I  dally  and  am  fo  di- 
latory in  this,  my  moft  important  Concern ,  thod 
waiteft  for  my  better  and  more  fcrious  thoughts-. 

When 


MEDITATIONS.     14^ 

When  I  wander,  thou  bringefl:  me  back^  when 
I  refift  thy  gracious  Methods ,  thou  winneft  me 
over  and  indinefl:  my  Will.  When  I  am  floth- 
ful,  thou  quickeneft  and  fpurreft  me  on  3  when 
I  flee  to  thee  for  Mercy,  thou  readily  extend- 
cft  it  :  Thou  inftrucleit  my  Ignorance,  thou 
dryell  up  my  Tears  ,  lupporteft  my  drooping 
Spirits,  raifeil  me  up  again  when  I  fall,  re- 
pairell;  my  Breaches  and  inward  Decays ,  granteft 
when  I  afk,  art  found  when  I  feek  thee,  openelt 
when  I  knock.,  iheweil  me  the  good  way,  and 
teacheft  me  to  walk'  in  it ,  when  thou  haft  difco- 
vered  it  to  me.  The  grace  of  being  thus  favour'd 
upon  my  own  foHcitous  applications,  is  indeed 
very  great  5  but  greater  ftill  is  that,  by  which  thy- 
liberality,  O  Lord,  even  prevents  my  applicati- 
on to  thee.  And  yet  even  thofe  gifts  which  I 
have,  received  at  thy  bountiful  hand,  before  I  could 
aflc,  or  wifh,  or  even  think  of  them,  are  fuch 
that  fhould  I  attempt  to  declare,  and  fpeak  of  them 
particularly,  they  would  be  found  more  than  I  am 
able  to  exprefs.  Had  thefe  unafk'd  Bcneiits  pre- 
vented my  Requcfts  and  Willies  then  only,  when 
the  Greennefs  of  my  Years  and  Underltanding 
rendered  me  uncapable  of  difcerning  my  Wants, 
and  addrelling  to  thee  for  proper  Supplies  >  this 
had  been  a  compaflion  in  fome  degree  neceflaiy  9 
to  the  Ignorance  of  my  Childhood,  or  the  Incon- 
iideration  of  my  Youth.  But,  w4iich  enhances 
the  Obligation  yet  more,  I  find  the  fame  goodhefs 
following ,  and  even  preventing  me  ftill ,  though 
arrived  at  an  Age  of  Maturity  and  Judgment, 
When  I  am  quahfied  to  prcfent  before  thee  Sup- 
pHcations  faited  to  a  due  fenfe  of  my  wants,  when 
I  am  in  a  condition  of  feeking  thee ,  and  defiring 
and  cleaving  ftedtaftly  to  thee ,  as  my  Chief  and' 
only  Good.  But,  O  wonderful  Love  !  even  now 
thou  giveft  when  I  afk  not,  thou  art  with  me, 
when  I  look  not  after  thee,   thou  imparteft  to  me 

thofe 


146  MEDITATIONS. 


thole  ineflimiible  Benefits ,  which  I  have  not  a  juft 
regard  for  j  nay,  which  I  am  fo  far  from  defiring, 
as  even  to  defpife  them.  » 

Another  Mercy  of  the  firft  quaHty,  I  cannot  but 
efteem  that  Providence  of  thine,  which  gives  thy 
Angels  charge  over  me.  That  a  Creature  fo  frail 
and  fo  expos'd,  fhould  have  a  conllant  guard  of 
thy  appointment,  and  not  be  left  to  travel  through 
this  hazardous  and  troublefome  Wildefnefs  of  a 
World,  hke  a  Stranger  in  an  Enemy's  Country, 
naked  and  alone  ;  but  have  powerful  Protestors, 
and  moil  affedionate  Guides  to  keep  him  Compa- 
ny, and  be  an  unfccn  Security  to  him.  This 
furcly,  among  other  Confiderations ,  fhould  abun^ 
dantly  convince  us  of  the  dignity  of  our  Souls  -, 
and  how  precious  they  are  in  thy  fight,  that  thou 
art  pleas'd  to  employ  thofe  bright  and  glorious  Spi^ 
rits  in  7nimftring  continually  for  them  "who  Jhall  be 
heirs  of  everlailing  Salvation. 

But  above  all ,  I  mull  needs  admire  that  unwea?' 
ried  Patience  and  pity ,  which  no  Provocations  of 
mine  could  harden  againil  me ,  fo  far  as  to  with" 
draw  the  influence  of  that  preferving  Providence, 
though  I  have  juflly  forfeited  it  long  ago.  And 
to  this  I  am  fenfible  it  is ,  that  I  owe  the  being 
ftill  in  the  Land  of  the  living,  and  the  having  e-^ 
fcaped  the  many  dreadful  Diiaflcrs,  which  llood 
ready  to  devour  and  deflroy  me.  For  what  can  I 
fay,  why  the  Earth  ihould  not  long  ago  have  open- 
ed her  Mouth  and  fwallow'd  me  up ,  why  I  have 
not  been  flruck  through  with  hot  Thunderbolts, 
blafled  with  Lightning,  drown'd  in  the  Waters, 
or  fuffer'd  fome  untimely  or  uncommon  Death, 
which  might  evidently  appear  to  carry  the  marks 
of  a  fignal  Vengeance,  infli6lcd  on  me  for  the  hei- 
noufnefs  of  my  Sins  ?  This  there  was  reafon  enough 
to  apprehend  :  For,  when  by  finning  I  departed 
from  my  God ,  I  did  henceforth  not  only  deferve 
thy  anger,    and  to  be  puniih'd  by  thy  Hand  im- 

mc- 


MEDITATIONS.  147 


mediately  >  but  I  put  my  felf  into  a  Hate  of  Hofti^ 
lity,   and  armed   the  whole  Creation  againft  me. 
Thus  we  find   it  here  below,   that  if  any  Great 
Man's  Servant  revolt  from  his  Mafter,  he  docs  not 
exafperate  his  Lord  alone,   but  the  whole  Family 
refent  the  thing,   and  look  upon  themfelves  con- 
cerned to  puniih  the  Defeftion  to  the  utmoli:  of 
their  power.     And  I,   by  parity  of  reafon,    after 
incurring  the  difpleafure  of  Thee,   my  God,   the 
Maker  and  Governour   of  all  things,    ceafed   to 
deferve  any  Friendihip  or  good  Offices  from  ^ny  Wifd.  5, 
branch  of  this  thy  numerous  Family  j   and  might  i7« 
expert,  that  every  Creature  fhould  fife  up  againit 
me,   and  fight  the  quarrel  of  their  inccnfed  Lord. 
The  Earth  might  fay,   I  owe  thee  no  Suflenance^ 
and,   inftead  of  nourifhing,  ought  rather  to  fwal- 
low  thee  up,   becaufe  thou  halt  deferted  my  Ma- 
ker and  thy  King,   and  lifted  thy  felf  in  the  Ser- 
vice of  his  Enemy,   the  Devil.     The  Sun  might 
tell  me,   that  he  ought  not  to  ilied  his  beams  upon 
my  head,   for  the  comforts  of  hght  and  cherifhing 
warmth,  but  if  at  all,   to  fcorch  me  up  j   Or  elfe 
to  hide  thofe  beams  and  withdraw   them   quite  j 
That   my   fafety  and  convenience  ought  now  no 
longer  to  be  his  Care,    but  only,   how  to  revenge 
the  diilionour  done  to  that  Lord,  who  is  the  fource 
of  Light,   and  by  whofe  brightnefs  it  is  that  he 
ihines  at  all.     Thus  every  Creature,  in  its  turn  and 
refpeiStive  Capacity,    might  threaten   and  upbraid 
my  rebellion  againft  our  common  Maker  and  Go- 
vernour.    Thefe,   I  am  well  aftlired,  are  weapons 
which  God  hath  often  made  the  inftruments  of  his 
angry  Juftice,   againft  them  who  affront  and  live 
in  Defiance  of  Him  and  his  Laws :    But  in  truth 
there  is  no  need  of  his  ifiuing  out  a  frefh  commif- 
fion,   or  fetting  them  on  upon  this  occafionj  for 
fhould  God  only  withdraw  that  reftraint  he  keeps 
upon  the  Creatures,   they  would,   when  once  left 
to   themfelves,    foon  make  examples  of  Sinners: 

And 


148 


MEDITATIONS. 


And  their  not  doing  it  every  day  mufl:  wholly  be 
imputed  to  that  controuHng  Power,  which  checks 
and  keeps  them  in  -,  becaufe  he  who  made  us  loves 
us,   becaufe  he  is  long   fufFering  and   tender,   not 

Ezek  i^defirmg  the  death,  of  a  Sinner^   but  rather  that  he 
Jhould  be  converted  and  lii'e. 

But  fure,  when  1  fit  down  and  compute  my  Ob- 
ligations, the  more  and  greater  I  find  thefe  to  be^ 
the  more  thankful,  more  entire,  more  ready  and 
cheerfiti  I  ought  to  fiiew  my  felf  in  my  Obedience^ 
for  fear  at  leaft  the  Sufpenfion  of  the  Puniihment 
add  to  the  Weight  of  itj  and  Forbearance  abufed 
inflame  the  Wrath  of  God,  in  proportion  to  the 
time  and  the  bafcnefs,  of  my  having  it  extended 
to  me  in  vain.  O  let  us  then,  my  Soul,  lay  feri- 
oufly  to  heart  the  wonderful  Compaffion  of  God, 
in  not  cutting  us  off  in  our  fins  5  let  us  admire  that 
grace  by  which  he  hath  elected  us  that  we  fhould 
be  veffels  of  mercy  prepared  unto  glory  ,  let  us  adore 
that  incomprehenfible  love  wherewith  he  hath  loved 

Pfal.  40.  tis.  For  upon  this  account  did  he  wait  patiently^ 
incline  his  ear  unto  me^  and  hear  my  calling  j  turning 
his  eyes  away  from  my  iniquities,  as  if  he  were  loth 
to  fee  the  greatnels  of  thofe  Tranlgrcfiions,  which 
his  mercy  difpofed  him  not  to  punifii.  Therefore, 
I  fay,  did  he  overlook,  as  it  were,  and  made  as 
though  he  did  not  fee,  'that  he  might  commend 
the  exceeding  greatnefs  of  his  Patience,  and  give 
us  the  ampleil  teftimony  of  his  love.  To  this  end 
( for  I  perfectly  remember,  and  feel  the  fmart  Hill ) 
did  he  pierce  my  Heart,  rowfing  it  out  of  its  Le- 
thargick  flupidity,  and  making  it  fenfible,  how 
grievoufiy  it  was  wounded  and  bruifed  with  Sin, 
that  fo  it  might  underlland  its  own  condition,  and 
groan  under  the  anguifh  of  a  broken  Spirit.  He 
led  me  down  to  the  gates  of  Hell,  fliewed  me  the 
Flames  and  Fiends,  the  Torments  and  Horrors  of 
that  difmal  place  prepared  for  the  Damned  >  And 
when  he  had  thus  brought  me  to  a  fight  of  my 

Mifery 


MEDITATIONS.  149 

Mifery  and  Danger  >  when  my  Heart  was  over- 
whelmed with  grief  and  terror,  and  almoft  funk 
in  defpair ;  then  did  he  turn  again  and  revive  me, 
let  in  frefli  comforts  upon  my  Soul,  infpired  me 
firft  with  hopes  of  Pardon  for  my  Sins,  and  then 
bellowed  that  Pardon  which  he  had  fufbained  me 
with  the  hopes  of.  And  this  Pardon  is  fo  frank, 
fo  abfolute,  that  all  the  Guik  and  Refentment  is- 
wholly  taken  away  by  it  >  He  will  not  now,  Vm 
fure,  take  this  revenge  in  my  condemnation  5  He 
will  not  expofe  me  to  fhame  by  upbraiding  me  with 
my  offences  3  He  will  not  fuffer  any  unkind  remem- 

■  brances  of  v/hat  a  wretch  I  have  been  heretofore,  to 
leflen  his  love  of  me,  as  tarn  how.  And  thcfe  are  all 
very  engaging  Confiderations  ^  for  how  many  are 
there,  who,  ..though  they  pafs  over  Injuiy,  fo  as  at 
no  other  time  to  make  the  Offender  fmart  for  it,  yet 
take  the  liberty  of  frequently  caffing  it  in  his  teeth  ? 
or,  if  they  fmotber  their  refentmcnts  in  filcnce, 
yet  bear  a  fecret  grudge,  and  remember  the  fault 
with  bitternefs  and  rancour?  Either  of  v/hich  is 
very  diftant  from  a  true  and  full  forgiveneis.     But 

I  nothing  can  be  more  unlike  than  thefe,  to  the 
Oiemency  and  Benignity  of  the  Divine  Nature. 
For  God  gives  liberally,    and  forgives  abfolutely^  , 

and,  that  repenting  Sinners  may  want  no  Encou- 
ragement to  truff  in  his  Mercy,  and  depend  upon 
a  favourable  Reception,  when  they  have  recourfe 
to  him,  the  greatnefs  of  the  guilt  we  are  affured  is 

no  bar  to  pardon  ^    for  wbere  f be  offence  ahu^dedyRom.C.t, 
there  it  is  often  manifeff,   that  Grac^  is  wont  much 
more  to  abound.     Of  this  the  Scriptures  furnifh  many 
eminent  tcilimonies  for  our  Confolation.     Such  was 
'   St.  Peter^  who,  after  having  thrice  folemnly  and  deli-  Matt.  20. 
berately  denied  his  Lord,   had  the  care  of  Chriff's  John  21. 
Sheop  three  feveral  times  committed  to  his  Truff. 
Such  was  St.  Pauly  who  from  a  Blafphemer  of  the 
Truth,  and  a  Perfecutor  of  the  Church  of  God,  was 
made  a  fhofen  vejj'el  unto  Cbrifl^  to  bear  his  nd7?ie  before  Acfl.  9.  i  j; 

'  the 


ijo  MEDITATIONS. 

the  Gentiles  and  Kings^  and  the  Children  of  Ifrael. 
Matth.  9.  Such,  once  more  was  St.  Matthew^  who  from  fit- 
ting at  the  Receit  of  Cullom,  and  the  infamous 
Chara6ter  of  a  Publican,  was  chofen  to  be  an  A- 
pollle,  and  had  the  honour  of  being  the  firfl  Wri- 
ter  of  the  New  Teftament. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

The  Tower  of  Maftering  Temptations. 


T 


O  all  his  former  valuable  gifts,  God  hath  been 
pleafed  to  add  that  of  Continence.  By  which 
I  mean  the  power  of  refilling  and  abftaining  from, 
not  only  the  pleafures  of  flefh  and  fenfe,  but  all 
other  temptations  and  vices  whatfoever,  to  which 
it  is  no  lefs  criminal  to  yield,  than  it  \yould  be  to 
thofe  of  Carnahty  and  Luxury.  And  I  muft  own 
with  all  due  gratitude,  that  I  in  this  refpecl  have 
foimd  my  felf  fo  ftrengthened,  as  of  late,  by  the  af- 
fiilances  of  divine  Grace,  to  exercife  that  Maftery 
over  my  Appetite  for  a  long  time  together,  which 
formerly  I  was  feldom  able  to  retain  for  three  poor 
days,  without  fome  fad  defe6t  or  interruption.  And 
this  I  count  fo  very  happy  an  alteration,  as  to  chal- 

Lu'<e  I.  lenge  that  acknowledgment  of  praife,  He  that  is 
mighty^  hath  done  for  me  great  things.  Some  per- 
haps there  are  who  have  but  a  mean  ellecm  of  this 
Bleiling  j  but  to  Me,  it  appears  a  very  fignal  one. 
For  I  am  fenfible  what  Enemies  I  have  to  encoun- 
ter, and  how  very  great  a  proportion  of  fhrength 
is  necefi'ary,  for  waging  this  fpiritualwar  with  anv 
tolerable  ibccefs.     The  firll  Enemy,  which  makes 

Gal. 5. 17.  head  againft  this  Virtue  of  ours,  is  our  own  Flcfli  % 
And  the  Alfaults  upon  it  are  thofe  pei'petual  Lull- 
ings  againft  the  Spirit,  which  every  Man  hath  fucli 
wofui  Gxf eiience  of  in  his  own  breail.     Now  this 

is 


MEDITATIONS.  iji 

is  an  enemy,  from  whofe  cruelty  there  is  no  run- 
ning away  •,  'Tis  a  domeilick  Foe,  an  inteftin^^ 
War,  and  confequently  a  Combat  of  infinite  ha- 
zard and  danger.  Thou  canll  not,  O  my  Soul, 
difpofTefs  or  drive  him  out  of  thy  quarters,  the 
condition  of  thy  Nature  hath  tied  him  clofe  to 
thee,  and  carry  him  about  thou  muft  wherefoe- 
ver  thou  goeft.  Now  what  can  aggravate  our 
perils  or  our  mifery  more  than  this,  that  we  are 
under  an  indifpcniible  NeceUity  of  fubfifting  the 
forces  that  fight  againft  us  ?  Kill  them  we  muft 
not,  and  ftarve  them  out  we  cannot.  Confider 
this,  and  then  tell  me,  how  ll;ri<51:  a  watch  thou 
oughteft  to  keep  over  a  Seducer  that  lyeth  in  thy  Micah  7; 
hofom.  5. 

But  neither  is  this  the  Only  adverfary  we  have 
to  engage  with  5  there  is  another  which  lays  clofe 
fiege,  and  compafleth  us  in  on  every  fide.  I  mean, 
the  prefent  evil  World,  which  hath  no  lefs  than 
five  Avenues^  always  open  to  make  his  approaches 
by>  the  ^yc  Senfes  of  our  Body,  thro'  which  he] 
wounds  Me  with  his  darts,  and  ^o  Death  comes  upltx.^.zil 
into  my  windows.^  and  enters  into  my  "palaces. 

The  third  is  that  common  and  inveterate  Ene- 
my of  Mankind,  that  Old  Serpent,  which  is  more  Gen.  3. 
(ubtle  than  all  the  beafts  of  the  field.  An  Enemy 
that  attacks  us  unfeen,  and  confequently  more 
difficult  to  be  avoided.  Nor  does  he  always  pro- 
ceed in  the  lame  method  >  but  fometimes  falls  on 
with  open  violence,  fometimes  trepans  us  by  fecret 
cunning  and  fraudulent  infinuation  :  His  malice 
however,  and  his  cruelty,  are  always  the  fame, 
and  the  end  he  drives  at  by  the  moil  different 
means  is  conflantly  our  mifchief  and  eternal  ruin. 
And  who  now  is  fufficient,  to  vanquifh,  fiiall  I 
fay  ?  nay,  even  to  hold  out,  and  keep  himfelf 
from  being  vanquifhed  by  this  triple  Alliance,  and 
joint  force  ?  Thefe  things  are  what  I  thought 
fit  to  have  the  more  exprefs  notice  taken  of, 
I  L  that 


ijz  MEDITATIONS. 


that  Men  might  have  the  jufter  notion  of  the  ex- 
cellence, but  withal  the  difficulty  too,  of  that 
Mafterly  Virtue,  which  I  mean  here  by  Conti- 
nence. That  they  who  are  happy  in  it  might  be 
duly  fenfible,  how  valuable  a  gift  they  have  re- 
ceived from  God,  and  in  that  fcnfe  might  excite 
their  hearts  to  a  more  earncil  love  of  their  Pre- 
ferver  and  great  Benefactor,  who  alone  could  be- 
Pfal.  44.  fl;ow  it  upon  them.  For  it  is  through  theJLord  that 
ive  do  all  the  great  a5Is  of  this  kind,  and  tread  them 
under  that  rife  up  againftus.  He  it  is^  that  fubducs 
and  crucifies  our  Flefh,  with  its  affedlions  and 
lufts :  He  that  proteds  us  againft  this  prefent  evil 
World,  and  mortifies  us  to  all  its  vanities  5  and  He 
ft  is,  that  breaks  the  Serpent's  head,  and  bruifes 
Satan  imder  our  feet,  with  all  his  wicked  Wiles 
and  Temptations.  Is  there  not  reafon  then  from 
the  contemplation  of  this  Virtue,  of  the  Conquclb 
it  makes,  and  the  power  of  making  them,  which  is 
received  from  above,  to  cry  out,  again  and  again. 
He  that  is  mighty  hath  done  for  me  great  things^  and 
holy  is  his  name  ? 


CHAP.    XIV. 
The  Benefit  af  a  Holy  Hope. 

BY  being  enabled  to*  vanquifli  temptations,  I 
am  put  into  a  condition  of  efcaping  eternal 
Death  ^  but  it  is  yet  a  farther  inflance  of  Mercy, 
that  the  Lord  my  God  affords  me  fuch  grace,  as 
may  qualify  me  for  inheriting  the  bleilings  of  Eter- 
nal Life.  And  this  I  take  chiefly  to  confiil  inThrce 
things  :  The  Hatred  of  pail  Evil,  The  Contempt 
of  prefent  Good,  and.  The  Defire  of  that  Good 
which  is  to  come :  Which  Defirc  is  alfo  fupported 
and  inflamed  by  another  precious  Gift  of  God, 
the  Hope  of  obtaining    that    futui'e  Blcflednefs. 

Now 


MEDITATIONS.  153 


%«»««»> 


Now  there  are  likewife  l^bree  Confiderations,  which 
uphold  and  llrengtheii  my  Heart  in  this  hope: 
And  that  (o  firmly^  that  no  want  of  defert  on  my 
part,  not  even  the  lowed  and  moft  mortifying 
thoughts  of  my  vilencfs  and  unworthinefs,  nor  the 
liighell  and  moft  enlarged  notions  of  the  excels 
lence  of  that  blifs  in  Heaven,  can  caft  me  down 
from  this  high  Tower  of  Hope.  No,  My  Soul  is 
rooted  and  grounded  in  it,  paft  the  power  of  be- 
ing fhaken  with  any  melancholy  mifgivings.  And 
the  foundations  that  bear  me  up  in  all  this  firmnels 
of  Mind  are  Three.  Firft,  I  conlider  the  Great- 
ncfs  of  God's  Love,  expreiTed  in  my  Adoption.  Se- 
condly, The  Truth  of  God,  which  hath  proinifed 
this  Bledednefs.  And,  Thirdly,  The  Power  of  God 
to  make  good  whatever  he  hath  promifed,  to  the? 
iittermoft.  Let  then  my  foolifh  defponding  Heart 
raife  fcruples  to  confound  me,  and  obje<5t  never 
fo  importunately  5  ^^  Vain  Man,  confider  what 
^'  thou  art,  and  what  thou  fondly  imagineft  thou 
*'  {halt  one  day  be>  What  canft  thou  fee  in  thy 
*'  felf,  a  Creature  fo  little,  fo  polluted,  to  think 
"  that  ever  thou  fliouldft  attain  to  a  ftate  of  fuch 
'^  purity,  fuch  excellent  gloiy  ?  Canft  thou  dif- 
''  cern  any  proportion  at  all  between  a  finite  Crea-* 
.  "  ture  and  infinite  Happinefs?  Or  art  thou  able 
''  to  difcover  any  fuch  extraordinary  Merit  to 
^*  ground  thy  hopes  upon,  as  {hould  incline  God  to 
*'  exalt  Thee  fo  much  above  what  Nature  feems 
*'  to  have  qualified  thee  for?  Thefe  difficulties  I 
I  am  in  no  degree  terrified  by,  but  can  with  great 
aflurance  return  this  anfwer  to  them,  and  reft  my 
Soul  upon  it,  I  know  whom  I  have  heUeved^  and  am  2.  Tim.  i^ 
eerily  perfuaded^  that  God  would  never  have  adopt- li. 
ed  me  for  his  own  Child,  had  he  not  loved  me 
exceedingly  ;  that  he  would  never  have  promifed, 
had  he  not  refolved  to  perform  5  and  that,  1^  thefe 
things  could  be  fuppoled  greater  than  really  they 
are,    yet  the  putting   me  in  a£tual  pofTeflion  of 

L  %  th^n^j 


IJ4  MEDITATIONS. 

them,  cannot  exceed  in  his  Power,  becaufe  I  am 
fure  he  can  do  whatfoever  pleafeth  him,  both  in 
Heaven  and  Earth.  And  therefore  I  can  never 
love  God  enough,  for  infpiring  'and  comforting 
me  with  this  Hope,  and  putting  me  into  the  way 
qf  attainii:5g  the  bhfs,  he  hath  encouraged  me  to 
cxpe6l'  at  his  merciful  hands.  And  great  encou- 
ragement I  have  from  thofe  Earftefts  and  Ante-* 
palh  of  his  future  Goodnefs,  which  he  vouchfafes 
:me  even  in  this  world.  For  fuch,  I  reckon,  are 
his  following  after,  and  overtaking  me,  when  I 
iled  away  from  him ;  His  controuhng  and  banifh- 
ing  my  fears,  by  the  Charms  of  meeknefs  and 
kindnefs,  cherifliing  and  frequently  reviving  my 
hopes,  when  I  lay  languifliing  in  Defpair ;  His 
even  conllraining  me  to  better  obedience,  by  heaping 
on  frefe  Benefits,  not  with  ftanding  my  Ingratitude 
for  thofe  I  had  formerly  receiv'd  -,  His  giving  me 
a  better  Senfe  of  things,  and  enabling  me  to  relifh 
the'  fweetnefs  of  fpiritual  Joys,  when  my  palate 
Hood  to  none,  but  fuch  as  were  impure  and  merely 
fcnfual>j  His  burfling  my  bonds  afunder,  andfetting 
mc  at  liberty,  from  the  bondage  of  evil  habits, 
which  I  had  not  the  Power  to  breaks  and  his  re- 
ceiving me  with  fo  much  tendernefs,  when  by  his 
help  I  had  weaned  my  Affe6lions  from  the  World, 
and  forfakcn  all  to  follow  him.  He  would  not 
have  done  thus  much  for  me  already,  had  he  not 
intended  to  do  more  hereafter  5  and  therefore  I  will 
trull  his  word  for  thfs  fulnefs  of  blifs  in  reverfion, 
and  dare  depend  upon  the  full  accomplifhment  of 
it  to  his  Servant  ( though  of  my  felf  mofh  unwor- 
thy,) fince  I  have  fuch  grounds  of  afiurance  from 
the  many  precious  pledges  of  an  inviolable  love  ex- 
hibited, and  paid  me  down  in  hand. 


CHAP, 


MED  ITATI  ON  S.  lyy 


C  H  A  P.    XV. 

The  many  Injlances  of  Gods  Bounty  ;  notwith- 
fiand'tng  our  Sins  5  and  the  Thanks  due  to  him 
ti^on  this  account. 

PRoceed  then,  my  Soul,  in  th^fe  moil  pleafing 
Contemplations,  and  fuftain  thy  felf  againft  all 
defponding  thoughts,  by  recolle(5ling  thole  many 
other  proofs  of  the  divine  Goodnefs,  which  have 
been  fo  peculiar,  fo  fecretly  convey'd  to  thee, 
that  none  but  thy  felf  could  be  privy  to  them. 
Think  of  thofe  retir'd  Pleafures ,  which  thy  Lord 
entertains  thee  with  in  fecret,  upon  thy  retreat 
from  the  World,  and  private  Converfation  with 
him  j  What  delicious  Food  he  hath  provided 
for  the  fatisfying  of  thy  Spiritual  Hunger  j  What 
ineflimable  Treafures  of  Mercy  he  hath  given 
thee  richly  to  enjoys  what  fecret  longings  he  in- 
fpires  thee  with,  and  how  plentifully  thou  haft 
been  made  to  drink  of  the  raviihing  Cup  of  his 
Love.  Was  it  then  not  a  noble  Condefcenfion,  a 
moft  aftonifliing  inftance  of  CompalTion,  that  he 
left  me  not  deftitute  of  fpiritual  Comforts  ?  Me,  I 
fay,  who  was  a  flothful  and  ungracious  Servant,  a 
Fugitive,  a  Rebel,  and  one  who  never  had  returned 
to  him  and  my  Duty,  if  he  in  mere,  in  boundlefs 
pity,  had  not  call'd  me  home  ?  For  thou  canft  not 
fure  but  remember,  my  Soul,  that  if  at  any  time  J[ 
was  under  fharp  trials,  he  interpos'd  with  feafonar 
ble  fupports :  If  I  was  ready  to  be  overpowered 
by  dangers,  he  prefently  fortify'd  me  againft  them  : 
If  I  was  dejeded  with  grief,  he  fuftain'd  my  Spi- 
rits i  If  I  was  wavering  in  my  Duty,  he  ftrengthen'd 
^nd  kept  me  fteady.  If  I  grew  dry  and  heavy, 
fearful  and  faint,  he  pour'd  in  the  Refrefhments 
of  his  holy  Spirit,  and  gave  a  grateful  relifh  to  my 

L  3  devo^^ 


IJ(^ 


MEDITATIONS. 


Devotions.     O  I  never  can,    I  never  ought  to  for- 
get ,   when  I  have  been  reading ,   or  hearing  ,    or 
praying,   or  meditating,   in  private  or  in  publick, 
how  often  he  hath  fhone  in  upon  me ,   and ,   by  a 
Ray  of  heavenly  Light,  guided  my  Mind  to  a  right 
underflanding  of  his   holy  Word,    opened   mine 
Eyes,   that  1  might  fee  the  meaning,  the  wondrous 
hidden  things  of  his  Law  >   collected  my  fcatter'd 
Thoughts  y  put  a  flop  to  my  Wandrings ;  and  made 
them  all  to  center  in  himfclf,    with  a  defire  too 
intenfe  to  be  exprefs'd  :    how  often  he  hath  drawn 
off  my  Mind  from  earthly  Objeclrs,   and  rais'd  it  up 
to  heavenly  Dehghtsj   and  fixed  it  there,  and  en- 
tertained me  with  thofe  Pleafures ,   which  are  the 
Portion  of  the  Blefled  above.      Thefe  and  many 
more  Expreflions  of  his  Mercy  I  have  felt  and  re- 
joyced  in  j    more  than  I  can ,   more  than  perhaps 
would  become  me  to  mention  particularly,   left  I 
fhould  feem  to  exceed  the  bounds  of  Modefty,  to 
infinuate  an  Opinion  of  fome  more  than  common 
worth  in  one  fo  highly  favour'd,    and  arrogate  to 
my  felf  a  part  of  that  Glory  which  is  entirely  his. 
For,  according  to  the  vulgar  Notions  of  thefe  Mat- 
ters, the  Grace  of  the  giver,   and  the  Privilege  of 
the  receiver,   are   fo   clofely  connected,    that  he 
who  ought  alone  to  be  praifed ,    is  feldom  praifed 
alone;    for  the  Perfon  who  is  fo  fignally  happy  in 
the  Gift,  is  generally  admitted  into  a  fhare  of  the 
value   and   commendation  due  to  it.     But,   alas  ! 
what  fhare  hath  any  of  us,   even  the  bcft  of  us  all, 
>phich  he  hath  not  receiv'd  ?    And  what  applaufe 
can  belong  to  him,   who  receiv'd  all  the  powers 
of  doing  well  freely,   as  if  this  receiving  were  in 
any  degree  meritorious  ?     To  thee,    therefore,    O 
Lord  my  God,   to  thee  alone,   be  the  Praife,  the 
Glory  and  Thankfgiving :  but  to  me,  I  am  furc,  be- 
longs nothing  but  fliame  and  confufion  of  Face,  for 
the  numberlefs  evil  things  1  have  done  againft  thee, 
and  the  numberlefs  good  things  I  have  been  blefs'd 
with  from  thee.  -.    •  ■  ^^^ 


MEDITATIONS.  ij/ 


And  indeed  my  thanks  are  by  no  means  what 
they  ought  to  be,  except  thefe  Articles  be  both 
taken  in.  For,  though  the  consideration  of  thy 
Goodnefs  be  by  it  lelf  juil  matter  of  gratitude  anci 
wonder  5  yet  it  is  ftill  more  engaging ,  more  ailo- 
-aiiiliing,  when  that  of  our  Ofienccs  and  grievous 
Wic kednefs  is  added  to  it.  For,  if  it  be  a  com- 
mendation of  bounty,  to  give  largely  where  the 
Receivers  have  deferved  nothing ,  how  fhall  we 
find  Ideas  large  enough  to  reprefent,  and  worthily 
extol  that  kindnefs,  which  returns  Good  and  Evil, 
and  beilows  liberally  where  Men  have  been  as  li- 
beral in  their  injuries  and  provocations  ?  What 
ftrange  bowels  of  a  Fatherly  afFedion  are  thofe, 
which  the  moil  infolent,  moif  perverfe,  moft  un- 
dutiful  Children  cannot  harden  againfl  themfelves  ? 
And  yet,  my  foul,  this  is  dire6tly  the  State  of  the 
Cafe  between  God  and  Thee.  Many  things  there 
are,  which  he  in  Mercy  forgives,  many  that  he 
forgives  moil  readily,  and  in  great  abundance. 
But  then  we  muil  remember,  that  the  Evils  he 
forgives  are  entirely  Ours,  and  the  good  things  he 
beltows  are  entirely  his  Own.  He  is  always  ready 
to  pardon,  he  is  no  lefs  ready  to  givej  the  One 
proves  his  boimdlefs  pity,  the  other  his  boundleis 
Liberality  >  Or  rather  indeed,  both  the  one  and 
the  other  prove,  that  neither  his  pity  nor  his  Libe- 
rality have  any  bounds.  Let  us  therefore  give 
glory  to  God  by  confeiling  the  good  we  have  done, 
let  us  do  it  likewife  by  confeiling  the  good  we 
have  received.  Let  us  acknowledge  the  Evil  to 
be  all  our  ov/n,  that  his  Mercy  may  be  inclined  to 
pardon  it;,  let  us  acknowledge  the  good  to  be  all 
His,  that  his  Bounty  may  continue,  and  add  to  it. 
And  let  this  be  our  conllant  daily  work  j  for  wc 
can  never  exceed  in  any  expreilions  of  that  grati- 
tude, which  is  due,  both  upon  the  account  of  the 
iins  he  hath  pardoned,  and  of  the  gifts  and  graces 
he  hath  beilov/ed.     Thus,  I  fiy,  cscry  one  ihould 

L  4  '  be 


iy8 


MEDITATIONS. 


be  employed,  who  thinks  himfelf ,  or  who  defires 
to  be  a  true  lover  of  God  :  For  true  Love  will 
be  always  labouring  to  exprefs  it  lelf  in  fuch  Con- 
feflions  and  Acknowledgments. 

And  what  now  do  we  think  fhould  be  the  re- 
fult  of  all  thefe  Confiderations  ?   What  indeed  but 
this,   that  eveiy  one  who  lays  them   ferioufly  to 
Heart,  fhall  take  his  Mind  off  from  all  other  Ob- 
je6ts,   and  place  his  Love  on  God  alone,  who  hath 
done  fo  much  for  him  ?    That  he  fhould  find  him- 
felf very  tenderly  affefted,   and  wonderfully  tranf- 
ported   with  every  refle6tion  upon   fuch  amazing 
Kindnefs  and  Compailion  ?     If  any  Man  can  ob- 
ferve  fo  much  Mercy,    fo  llrong  Obligations,   and 
yet  be  wanting  in  affeftion  to  God,   let  fuch  a  one 
be  afTur'd  ,    that  this   coldnefs   proceeds  from  his 
negledt  and  though tlefnefs.       For  every  one  who 
will  be  at  the  pains  to  confider,    will  eafily  find 
himfelf  fo  highly  indebted  to  God,  that  all  he  can 
do  in  this  fervice  is  little  enough ,    and  much  lefs 
than  is  owing  him  in  return.     'Tis  true  indeed  all 
Men's   Engagements   in   this   point   are    not   the 
fame  j   nor  hath  God  diflributed  his  Blefiings  with 
a  perfectly  even  Hand  ^    but  they  that  have  leaft 
have  more  than  they  can  lay  claim  to,    more  than 
they  can  ever  be  fufficiently  grateful  for.     Admit- 
ting then  that  a  Man  be  not  furnifh'd  even  with 
all  thofe  Graces  which  are  necelFary  to  Salvation, 
yet  will  not  this  bear  fuch  a  one  out  in  murmur- 
ing againfi  Providence ,    or   charging  God   fool- 
ifhly.     For  God  is  Wife  and  Jufl  in  all  his  Difpen- 
fations  :    He    proceeds   upon   Meafures,    which, 
though  unlvuown  to  us,   are  yet  moft  reafonable 
Rom.  9.  in  themfelves.  He  hath  mercy  on  'whom  he  imll  have 
16.  mercy ^  andwhom  heivill  he  hardeneth.     And,  being 

no  Man's  debtor,  but  abfolutcly  Mafler  of  his 
own  favours,  he  may  give  where  he  fees  fit,  and 
refume  what  he  had  given,  when  and  from  whom 
he  fees  fit,  without  beins  accountable  for  either. 

Let 


MEDITATIONS.  159 


Let  him  therefore,  who  hath  not  thofe  Gifts,  la- 
ment his  own  Misfortune  with  humiHty,  and  la- 
bour after  them,  and  pray  for  them  moft  earneftlyj 
and  let  him,  who  hath  them  make  a  juft  eflimate 
of  the  mighty  Blefling,  and  give  all  diligence  to  be 
truly  thankful  to  God  for  it. 


CHAP.    XVI. 

Of  the  "Death  ofChriJi. 

I  For  my  own  part  do  moft  humbly  confefs,  that 
the  Benefits  I  have  receiv'd  from  thee,  my  Lord 
and  my  God ,  are  unmeafurably  great ,  are  innu- 
merably many  :  So  many  and  fo  great,  that  I 
ihould  be  of  all  Creatures  the  moft  unworthy  and 
infenfible,  fhou'd  I  not  aKvays  Love,  and  always 
Praife  thee  for  them.  For  whatever  good  thing  I 
am  now,  or  ever  was,  or  ever  ihall  be  polTefs'd  of, 
is  from  thee,  the  Supreme  Good,  from  whom 
all  that  is  good  proceeds.  And  yet  there  is  one 
thing  ftill  behind,  which,  I  muft  own,  enflames 
my  Heart,  and  excites  my  A^QQiion^  more  power- 
fully than  all  the  reft.  For  never  was  any  Inftance 
of  thy  kindncfs  fo  engaging,  fo  irrefiftable,  as  that 
moft  ihameful  and  moft  bitter  Death,   which  thou, 

0  bleffed  Jefus,  didft  fubmit  to  for  the  accom- 
pliftiing  of  the  moft  glorious  work  of  our  Redemp- 
tion. This  fingly,  or  at  leaft  this  with  the  reft, 
lays  indifputable  claim  to  all  our  Life,  to  all  our 
Labours,  to  all  our  Obedience,  to  all  our  Love.  This, 

1  fay,  is  the  Confideration,  which  of  all  others  ex- 
cites our  Devotion  moft  frequently,  entertains  it 
moft  agreeably,  and  raifes  it  to  the  loftieft  pitch. 
For  in  this  great  Defign  the  great  Creator  of  the 
World  takes  pains,  and  feems  to  have  retrieved  the 
Fabrick  of  his  own  framing  with  much  more  dif- 
ficulty than  he  at  firft  built  it  all  out  of  Nothing. 

With 


i6o  MEDITATIONS. 


With  what  cafe  that  was  done,    the  Pliilmill  very 
lively  exprelTes.     He  fpake  the  word  and  they  were 
nuuie^  he  commanded  and  they  were  created ,  But  for 
the  rellitution  of  loll  Men,  Good  God !    how  ma- 
ny,  how  grievous,    how  long  a  Series  of  labours 
and  foiTows  didil:  thou  undergo!  Gome  hither  thcn^ 
my  Soul,  and  behold  what  manner  of  Love  thy  Sa- 
viour hath  beftowed  on  thee ;    who,  without  any 
manner  of  neceility  to  compel  him ,   without  any 
profpe6b  of  Profit  to  induce  him,  but  purely  of  his 
own  free  Mercy,   was  content  to  fuffer  fuch  hard- 
iTiips,  fuch  barbarous  indignities  for  thy  fake!  Well 
might  I  fay,    that  this  fingle  a£fc  of  Goodnefs  is  an 
over-balance  to  all  the  reit.     For  tho'  it  be  a  great 
kindneis   to    lay  out  what  we  have  for  another's 
advantage,  yet  what  we  have  bears  no  proportion 
to  what  we  are  -,    nor  ought  that  to  be  compar'd 
with  the  giving  a  Man's  own  felf     And ,   if  the 
molt  exalted  Friendfhip  we  ever  heard  of  can  go  no 
higher  than  one  Friend's  laying  down  his  Lite  for 
another  j    how  much  more  noble  was  that  Charity 
of  which  the  Son  of  God  left  us  this  unexam.pl'd 
Proof,  of  his  laying  down  his  Life  for  his  Enemies. 
And  that  this  was  our  Condition  the  Apollle  de- 
Rom.  5.   clares,  IV hen  we  were  Ene?nies^  fays  he,  we  were  re- 
J^-  7?  ^*  conciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son;    and  again, 
Scarcely  for  a  righteous  Man  will  one  die^  but  God  herein 
commendeth  his  love  towards  iis^  that  while  we  were  yet 
I  Pet.  3.   (inner  s^  Chrift  died  for  us :  the  juft  for  the  unjufi^  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God.     He  remov'd  down  from 
the  Manfions  of  Biifs  in  Heaven,  that  he  might  car- 
ry us  back  thither  with  him.  O  unfpeakable  Love ! 
J     O  fwectnefs    of  Mercy  unconceivable  !     O  moil 
amazing  Condefcenlion  !    that  God  for  the  fake  of 
IVlan   lliould   be  made  Man,    that  God   for  Man 
ihould  die  in  the  Flefh ,    that  he  fhould  fubmit  to 
Keb4.T5.be  te?nptcd  in  all  things  like  as  we  are^  only  without 
fin.  See  at  how  inellimable  a  Price,  fee  with  what  dif- 
ficulty,   Man  was  redeemed  >    who  had  forfeited 

and 


MEDITATIONS.  i6 


and  enflaved  himfclf  to  the  Devil  •,  and  had  he 
not  been  ranfom'd  at  fo  valt  an  Expence^  mail 
unavoidably  have  fufFer'd  eternal  Damnation,  with 
that  tyrannical  Mailer  of  his  own  choollng.  Thefe  . 
Refle&ions  will  iliew  thee,  O  Man,  how  much 
thou  art  bound  to  love  God  -,  and  if  he  calls  thee 
to  it,  how  patiently,  how  w^illingly,  nay,  with 
how  chearful  and  eager  a  Zeal ,  thou  oughtefl  to 
endure  hardfhips,  and  pain,  and  tortures,  for  him 
who  hath  endur'd  fo  much  incomparably  greater 
for  thee.  For  it  is  through  much  tribulation  that  v:e 
mufl  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of  God.  And  therefore 
let  my  Soul  gladly  embrace  her  cnici^y'dLjefus',  let 
her,  my  fweetell:  Saviour,  drink  deep  of  thy  deli- 
cious Blood;  let  this  moil  moving  Theme  be  her 
conilant  Meditation,  that  I  may  never  one  Moment 
be  unmindful  of  him  that  died  for  me.  I  am  deter- 
mined from  henceforth  ?tot  to  kuo'W  any  thing  fave  i  Cor.  ^, 
Jefus  Chrifl^  and  him  crucified  y  lell  other  vain  mif-  2. 
taken  Notions  ihould  draw  mv  knowledge  off  from 
the  firm  bottom  of  fivin£^  Faith  :  And  O  !  let  this 
wonderful  Love  of  thine  take  poffeilion  of  all  the 
Love  I  am  capable  of,  leil  any  rival  PalTion  infinu- 
ate  it  felf  into  my  Heart ,  and  I  be  fwallowed  up 
with  a  torrent  of  worldly  Affections. 

In  thus  devoting  my  w^hole  fclf  to  thee,  I  fhall 
confult  not  my  Duty  only,  but  my  Happinefs  too. 
For  thofe  Hearts,  which  the  fweetnefs  of  thy  love 
hath  taken  full  poffeffion  of,  are  all  Tranquillity 
and  Joy  :  there  is  no  place  for  fear  to  dao'jp  them, 
or  Luft  to  defile  them,  or  Anger  to  dillrad  them^ 
or  Pride  to  fwell  them  ,  or  Vain-glory  to  blow 
them  about,  or  Ambition  to  gall  them,  or  Cove- 
toufnefs  to  narrow  them,  or  Sorrow  to  deject  them, 
or  E>nvy  to  emaciate  them ;  in  fhort,  no  diibrder-? 
ly  Vice  difturbs  their  Peace,  or  corrupts  their  Joy, 
but  they  continue  firm  and  calm,  like  thofe  upper 
Regions,  where  Clouds  and  Storms  have  no  power. 
And  what  can  we  imagine  wtII  God  give,  or  what 

will 


x6z  MEDITATIONS. 

will  he  not  give  hereafter  to  thofe  good  Men  who 
tafte  fo  largely  of  his  Bounty  here  ?  For  even  the 
bell:  of  thofe  Gifts  Men  have  in  hand  are  Tempo- 
raU  but  thofe  which  he  hath  promifed  to  beftow 
upon  them  that  love  him  in  the  next  World ,  are 
Eternal,  and  confequently  much  more  defirable 
than  any  temporal  Advantages  >  that  even  to  make 
a  Comparifon  between  them  were  to  injure  and 
difparage  them.  For  this  is  a  Condition  common 
to  all  temporal  Advantages  ,  that  they  are  very 
hardly  got,  and  very  caiily  loft  again :  that,  while 
we  have  them  in  PofTeinon ,  they  are  kept  at  the 
expence  of  a  great  deal  of  anxious  care ,  and  part- 
ed with  to  our  great  grief,  and  if  ever  retrieved 
again,  yet  not  without  a  great  deal  of  toil  and 
trouble.  But  the  happinefs  of  the  next  World  is 
not  capable  of  lofs  or  diminution  j  the  enjoy- 
ment of  it  is  Pleafure  without  allay,  and  Eafc 
without  fraud  or  difturbance  j  the  Defires  of  it 
arc  always  keen,  and  the  Delights  of  PofTeffion 
always  new.  No  Man  receives  them  but  with  fuli 
fecurity,  that  they  fhall  no  more  be  taken  from 
him  againft  his  will,  then  he  fhall  ever  have  the  will 
to  diveft  himfelf  of  them. 


CHAP.    XVII. 

The  Tromifes  of  God. 

fT^  HIS  may  perfuade  us  to  make  the  Promifes 
JL    of  God  another  Incentive   to  the  Love  of 

him.  For,  though  the  Benefits  he  hath  given  his 
Servants  are  great  j  yet  thofe  which  he  hath  en- 
gaged to  give  them,  are  incomparably  greater. 
Now  thefe  are,  Reft  from  our  Labours,  a  Change 
from  Bondage  to  Liberty,  from  Fear  to  Security , 
from  Grief  to  Comfort  >  Refurredion  to  a  Life 
immortal  after  Death  3    and  after  that  Refurrecti? 

cnc. 


MEDITATIONS.  1^3 


on,  exquifite  and  endlefs  Joy :  In  a  word,  he  hath 
promifed  to  give  us  Himfelf.  So  unfpcakably  glo- 
rious are  his  Promifes.  And  the  love  which  thefe 
beget  in  us,  he  expe<5i:s  fhould  exert  it  felf  after  z 
very  particular  manner:  And  that  is,  by  a  vehement 
delire  of  the  Promife,  in  which  it  is  impoflible  to 
be  guilty  of  Excefs.  In  other  cafes  we  blame  Men 
for  being  impatient  -,  but  this  cafe  is  an  Exception 
to  the  reft,  and  here  Men  are  to  be  commended 
for  it.  To  be  contented  with  delays  argues  lan- 
guid Defires  and  coldnefs  of  Affection;  and  as  the 
wife  Man  obferves  very  truly,.  Hope  deferred  maketh 
the  Heart  fick.  Since  then  thefe  Blifles  are  to  be 
obtained  no  where  but  in  our  heavenly  Country^ 
it  betrays  too  great  an  indifference  for  fuch  noble 
Reverfions,  v/hen  we  do  not  long  moft  earneftly 
to  get  at  them,  and  are  not  weary  and  perfe6tly 
fick  of  every  thing  that  confpires  to  detain  us  from 
them. 


CHAP.    XVIIL 

The  Happinefs  of  a  Future  State. 

LE  T  us  then  raife  our  Thoughts  as  high,  and 
ftretch  them  as  wide  as  ever  we  can,  that  we 
may  try  to  reprefent  to  our  felves  in  fome  mea- 
fure  the  Nature  and  Perfe6tion  of  that  Joy  of  the 
Saints,  which  no  other  is  equal,  no  other  like  un- 
to. Now  that  chief  Good,  which  we  find  called 
by  the  feveral  Titles  of  Life,  Light,  Blcflednefs, 
Wifdom,  Eternity,  and  the  like,  is  but  One  moft 
fimple  and  fuprcme  Good,  perfect  and  felf-fuffici- 
ent,  without  v/hich  no  other  thing  can  either  be 
perfe6i:,  or  indeed  be  at  all :  This  Good,  I  fay,  is 
God  the  Father,  This  the  Word,  or  Son  of  God, 
This  again  is  that  pure  undivided  Love  common 
to  Father  and  Son  both,  the  Holy  Ghoft^  I  mean, 

who 


1^4 


MEDITATIONS. 


who    proceedeth    from   the   Father   and  the  Son. 
Now  fiich  as  each  of  thcfe  Perfons  is,    confidered 
apart  by  himfclf,    fuch  is  the  whole  Trinity  taken 
together^    Father,    Son,   and    Holy  Gholl:    For 
each  of  thefe  iingly  is  nothing  elfe  but  the  One 
moll  fimple,    conibant  Being  which  can  neither  be 
multiplied,    nor  diverfified, '  nor  changed.      Here 
then  is  th'at  One  thing  whidi  is  neceflary  :    For 
that  mull  certainly  be  a  neceflary  Good,    in  which 
all  Good  is,    nay,  which  it  felf  is  Good,    the  One 
whole  and   fole  Good.      If  each  of  thefe  things, 
which  we  call  Good,    miniftcr  fo  much  Delight, 
how  much  muit  flow  from  the  PoiTellion  of  Him 
who  comprehends  them  all,   and  is  as  much  fupe- 
rior   to  Them   in   Excellence,    as   the  Creator  is 
above  the  Creature  ?   Let  us  not  then  lavirh  away 
our  time  and  pains  upon  things  that   only  flatter 
us  with  deceitful  Promifes  of  Happinefsj  but  let  us 
love  this  one  Good,   for  that  alone  can  fuffice  for 
all  our  Exigencies,   and  fill  all  our  largell:  Defircs. 
It  is  but  lofi  Labour  to  attempt  a  jufl  Defcription 
of  the  Blifs  referved  for  us  in  our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther's Kingdoni  -,    no  Words  can  exprefs,  no  Mind 
confined  in  Flelli  can  expand  it  felf  fufficiently  to 
conceive  them.     For  w^hcn  we  have  let  loofe  our 
Thoughts,    ftill  thofc  Joys  are  of  a  Compafs  lar- 
ger than  They  can   fetch.      Many   and   glorious 
things  indeed    have  been  fpoken   of    this  City  of 
God,  but  yet  the  half  of  tlie  Truth  hath  not  been 
told  us.      This  is  the  only  Inflance,  in  which  Re- 
port  can   never   exceed,    and   Praifes   can   never 
flatter  j   no  Knowledge  can  come  up   to   it,    no 
Glory  compare  with  it.     The  Kingdom  of  God, 
in  a  word,  is  full  of  Liglit  and  Peace,  Charity  and 
Meeknefs,  Honour  and  Glory,  Sweetnefs  and  Love, 
Joy  and  everlalfing  Blifs  :    To  be  fhort,  of  every 
thing  that  is  Good,    more  and  better  than  can  be 
pofiibly  expreft  or  conceived :    But  ftill  this  is  no 
Argument,  why  I  ihould  not  fpeak  of  it  at  all,  or 

reprcfent 


MEDITATIONS.  165 

reprefent  its  Excellencies  as  well  as  I  can,  becauie 
I  cannot  do  it  fo  well  as  I  would,  we  believe  the 
Majefly  of  God  to  be  unfpeakably  Glorious  -,  but 
no  Man  is  to  extravagant  fure,  to  infer  from  thence 
that  wc  ought  never  to  fpeak  of  him,  nay,  it  iol- 
lows  rather,  that  we  fnould  fpeak  the  moft  glori- 
ous things  we  are  able,  that  they  who  hear  us  may 
believe  him  to  be  Hill  far  above  all  we  can  fay  of 
him.  Much  more,  'tis  evident,  may  be  compre- 
hended by  the  underflanding,  than  a  Man  can  find 
proper  Words  to  utter  5  and  yet  the  moll  profound 
and  capacious  Mind  cannot  comprehend  or  have 
any  Ideas  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  in  any  degree 
fuitable  to  its  real  Excellence.  And  therefore  the 
Life  to  come  is  what  we  have  reprefented  to  us  by 
the  following  Chara6lcr,  that  it  is  Eternal  in  Du- 
ration, and  a  BlciTednefs  to  all  Eternity,  a  State 
where  there  is  the  moll  profound  Security  and 
Tranquillity,  Pleafure  without  Pallion,  Love  with- 
out Fear,  Love  in  Perfecbion,  Day  without  Night, 
Adivity  and  Strength  without  poffibiiity  of  De- 
cay, perfect  Unanimity,  all  the  Souls  in  it  rapt 
with  the  Contemplation  of  God,  and  pall  all  an- 
prehenlion  of  being  ever  deprived  of  his  bcatifick 
Prefence :  A  City  bleft  with  the  moil  glorious  In- 
habitants, where  all  the  Saints  and  Angels  take  up 
their  perpetual  Rcfidence  >  the  Splendor  whereof 
confifts  in  the  fliining  Graces  of  God's  Elccl  >  where 
Health  abounds,  and  Truth  reigns  for  ever !  where 
there  is  no  deceiving,  no  being  deceived  j  out  of 
which  none  of  the  happy  ai'e  ever  expelled,  into 
which  none  of  the  wretched  are  ever  admitted. 

This  is  that  happy  contemplative  Life,  which 
they  who  can  reach  up  to,  by  the  finilliing  of  their 
Virtues,  Ihall  for  ever  enjoy,  and  be  like  the  Spi- 
rits of  jull  Men  made  perfeft,  and  fhall  rcign  with 
them  for  ever.  What  fuch  have  here  anticipated 
by  Faith,  they  fhall  there  have  in  Sights  beholding 
with  pure  Hearts  the  Subftancc  of  their  Creator  > 

rejoicing 


x66  MEDITATIONS. 


rejoicing  with  never-ceaiing  and  exceeding  great 
Joy  5   united  unfeparably  to  God,   and  to  each  o- 
ther  by  the  full  Fruition  of  the  Divine  Goodnefs, 
and  the  Charms  of  mutual  Love  j  Then  fliall  their 
once   fcattered   Bodies   be   reftored,    and   put  oh 
Immortality  and  Incorruption  >    and  thus  united, 
they  fhall  be  made  free  Subjects  of  their  heavenly 
Country,   and   inverted  with  all  the  Privileges  of 
the  City  of  God.     Then  fhall  they  reap  the  Fruits 
of  all  their  holy  Labours,    thofe  eternal  Recom- 
pences,     the    Promifes    and    diftant   Expectation 
whereof  fuftained  their  Spirits  in  the  many  long 
and  painful  Conflicts  here  below.     A  general  Glad- 
nefs  there  fhall  overflow,   and  thefe  Joys  fhall  be 
fo  agreeable,    that  they  fhall  always  be  thankful 
to  their  bountiful  Rewarder,    for  the  plenty  he 
hath  fo  nobly  enriched  them  with,   and  yet  that 
Plenty  fhall  abate  no  Man's  Satisfa6tion  in  the  a- 
bundance   he  enjoys.     There  every  Man's  Heart 
Ihdl  be  open  to  eveiy  Man,  for  every  Bread  fhall 
be  fo  white  and  pure,   that  the  Soul   fo  cleanfed 
Ihall  find  caufe  to  thank  God   for  wafhing  away 
their  Stains  in  the  Blood  of  his  Son,   but  not  at 
all  to  be  alhamed,   or  blufh  for  any  of  their  old 
Blemifhes  :     And   why   fhould   they  not  fee  into 
one  another's  Hearts  freely,  who  have  no  Secret? 
in  referve,   no  feparate  Litereil   to  promote,    no 
Deceit  to  manage,  no  Faults  to  conceal  ?  For  nei- 
ther Sins  nor  Sinners  are  in   Heaven,    and  They 
who  once  were  fuch,  from  the  Inllant  of  their  en- 
tring  that  place  of  purity,   are  out  of  all  poflibi- 
lity  ever  to  be  fo  any  more.     None  of  the  darkeft 
Secrets,    none  of  the  deepcft  Mylleries  fhall  then 
continue  fuch  :    The   blefled   lliall   be   let  into  a 
diilinct  knowledge  of  them  5    and,    which  is  in- 
finitely  better,    they  fhall  be   ever  viev/mg   and 
admiring  the  adorable  Perfci^tions   of   God   hini- 
felf. 

This 


MEDITATIONS.  1^7 


This  humane  Nature  ihall  then  be. advanced  to 
its  jull:  and  utmoft  Perfection,  incapable  of  being 
exalted,  or  funk  lower  any  more.  All  the  Excel- 
lencies commimicated  to  it  by  being  made  after 
the  likenefs  of  its  Maker,  fhall  then  be  fet  at  their 
higheft  Pitch  -,  and  the  corruption  and  defeats 
introduced  by  Sin,  utterly  done  away.  Nay,  we 
fhall  even  rife  above  what  was  given  us  at  our  firll 
Creation,  though  we  had  been  fo  happy  as  to  re- 
tain our  primitive  advantages.  We  fhall  under- 
fland  and  judge  without  error,  remember  without 
forge tfulnefs,  think  without  wandering,  love  with- 
out diflimulation  >  we  fhall  have  Senfe  without 
any  thing  to  offend  it,  Eafe  without  Pain,  Life 
without  Death  -,  Power  of  ailing  without  Obftruc- 
tion,  fulnefs  without  naufeating,  and  fuch  a  per- 
fe6tion  of  every  Faculty,  that  there  fhall  be  in  us 
all  imaginable  Soundnefs  and  Vigour,  without  any 
fort  of  Difeafe  or  Decay.  Whatever  maim  our 
Bodies  may  have  fuffered  here,  by  fudden  difafters 
or  wafting  diftempers,  or  mortified  Sores  >  what- 
ever Limbs  have  been  loft  by  the  biting  of  wild 
Beafts,  or  the  Cruelty  of  Men  no  lefs  barbarous 
than  they,  by  War,  or  Fire,  or  any  other  difmem- 
bring  Accident  3  nay,  even  the  Weaknefs  and  De- 
formities of  Sicknefs  and  old  Age,  ftiall  all  be  re- 
paired at  the  general  Refurre6tion  >  every  Defeat 
fupplied,  every  Lofs  reftored,  and  the  Body  com- 
pleat  in  all  its  Parts  >  Sound  and  Youthful,  Beauti- 
tul  and  Gay,  fliall  then,  together  with  the  Soul,  be 
cloathed  with  everlafting  Health  and  Immortality. 
So  happy  ihall  all  the  Saints  be  at  that  Day  3  but 
though  all  fliall  be  happy,  yet  will  not  they  all  be 
equally  fo  j  their  BlifTes  then  will  hold  Proportion 
to  their  Virtues  now>  and  one  Star  differs  from  an-- 1  Cor.  15, 
other  Star  in  that  glory^  becaufe  the  merciful  King 
of  Glory  rewards  every  man  according  to  his  works.   \  ^ai.  6i. 

II 
M  SELECT 


'^  GcirimuTxe    juttli  mi/  C7vn  ^'€can   anx)    mi/    rSinrit 
cidc    !Diiigent<Scarcn  .    PS;  77-  ^^^  6 . 


772 


I  dp 


SELECT 

MEDITATIONS 

OUT    OF 

St,  Augufiine^  Soliloquies. 
Book   III.       f 


C  H  A  p.    I. 

Lord,  thit  fear ch eft  me  out  and  knowefi  ^^^^pfai.  139; 
help  me  likewife  to  know  Thee,    thou  i. 

^*  Life  of  my  Soul.     Shew  mc  thy  face,  my  John  17* 

Light,  my  Comfort,  thou  Joy  and  Defire  of  my3« 
heart.  Let  me  find,  let  me  embrace,  let  mc  pof- 
(e(s  thee,  my  heavenly  Spoufe,  my  everlafting 
Blifs.  Let  me  love  thee,  O  Lord,  my  Strength^  my 
1'ower  of  Salvation^  my  Hope,  and  Help,  and  furePfal.  i8.i. 
Refuge  in  all  manner  of  Diilrefs :  Let  me  enjoy 
thee,  my  chief  Good,  without  whom  nothing  is 
Good. 

O  iVord  of  God  Eternal,  f oar  per  than  any  two  edged  John  i .  r ; 
fword^  open  mine  Ears,  that  I  may  hear  thy  Voice.  Heb.  4. 
O  Light  incomprehenfible,   enlighten  mine  Eycs^^- 
that  they  may  behold   thee>   and   fcatter,   Lord, 
all  thofe  Mifts  of  Vanity   that  dance  before  my 
Sight,  and  lead  me  into  Sin  and  Error.     Make  me 
a  new  Smell,  that  I  may  run  after  the  Odour  of  thy  Cant.  tl 
Ointments 'f  and  correct  my  vitiated  Palate,  that  I 

M  z  niay 


I70  MEDITATIONS. 

may  tafle  and  deliglit  in  thy  fweet  and  gi'acious 
PfAl.  34S.  Goodnefs.  And,  having  thus  reformed  my  Senjl- 
tive^  carry  on,  I  befeech  thee,  the  good  Work  in 
the  InteUeUual  Faculties  of  my  Soul  >  Oh,  that  my 
Underftanding  may  apprehend  thee ,  my  Will 
choofe  thee,  my  Memory  retain  and  meditate  upon 
thee,  and  my  whole  Heart  cleave  to  thee  with 
immoveable  ftedfallnefs,  and  a  mofl:  fenfible  delight. 
O  Life,  to  and  by  whom  all  things  livej  without 
whom  I  dye  and  perifh,  by  whom  I  am  animated, 
fuftained,  reftored,  exhilcrated,  where  fhall  I  find 
thee,  that  I  may  go  out  of  my  felf,  and  fubfift  en- 

Lxod.33.tirelyin  thee?  Thou  haft  faid  indeed,  No  Man  Jh  all 

^^'  fee  me  and  Ihe.  Lo !  if  this  be  the  condition  of 
my  happineft,  I  moft  gladly  accept  it  5  yea^  let  me 
dye,  O  Lord,  that  I  may  {tt  thee  in  Heaven  5  and  let 

Phil.  1.23.  me  fee  thee,  that  1  may  dye  to  this  World.  Ideftre 
to  he  diffolved^  and  to  he  with  Chrift^  which  is  far 
hetter :  I  wifh  to  dye,  that  I  may  fee  my  Lord :  I 
would  not  live  here,   that  I  may  live  with  Chrift. 

h^^l-S9'Lord  Jefus^  recei'ue  my  Spirit -j  take  thou  my  Soul, 
my  Life  ^  enta*  into  my  Heart,  thou  Joy  of  m^y 
Heart,  that  it  may  rejoice  in  Thee.  Shed  thy 
bright  Beams  upon  it.  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs,  that 
it  may  know  and  love  thee  >  for  therefore  does  it 
not  love  thee  as  it  ought,  becaufe  it  knows  thee 
but  very  imperfectly  •,  and  therefore  is  its  know- 
ledge very  imperfe6b,    becaufe  thy  Light  hath  hi- 

John  r.  5.  therto  fnned  in  darkmfs^  and  my  darkncfs  did  not 
recei'Ve  it  as  it  ought. 

O  Light  of  Truth,  and  true  Light,  which  lights, 
eft  every  man  that  co?neth  into  the  world^  (that  cometh 
into  it^  but  not  that  loveth  it  >   for  whofoever  will 

Jam.  4. 4.  be  a  friend  of  the  wcrld^  is  an  ene?ny  to  God)  difpel  the 
thick  darknefs  which  is  upon  the  face  of  this  C/r^^oj", 
that  my  Mind  may  fee  thee ,  by  its  intelleftual 
Powers,  and  fo  comprehend,  as  to  know  thee,  and 
fo  know,  as  to  love  thee.  For  every  one  that 
knows  thee,  loves  thee,  even  more,  tlian  himfelf, 
I  forfalvcs 


MEDITATIONS.  171 

forfakes  himfelf  and  flies  to  thee,  that  there  he 
may  find  Peace  and  perfe61:  Joy.  For  want  of  that 
knowledge  it  is  that  I  have  been  fo  extremely  dc-. 
fective'in  this  Point:  departing  from  thee,  the 
true  inward  and  fpiritual  Joy ,  and  feeking  Satif- 
fa6tion  in  outward  Obje6ls.  Thus  have  I  with  an 
adulterous  affedion,  fet  that  unfaithful  Heart  upon 
Vanities,  which  of  light  was  entirely  thine.  And 
I  have  fucceeded  according  to  my  Folly.  For  as 
Vanity  was  the  Object,  fo  hath  it  been  the  Fruit 
and  Portion  of  my  Love.  This  made  it  impofH- 
ble  for  me  to  delight  in,  and  to  reft  upon  thee. 
For  I  was  converfant  about  external  ,  whereas: 
thou  art  to  be  found  only  in  internal  Pleafures. 
I  made  Temporal  Advantages  my  Study.  Thou 
imparteft  thy  felf  in  thofe  that  are  Spiritual  j  my 
Thoughts,  and  Difcourfe,  and  Inclinations,  were 
engag'd  and  intangl'd  in  fhort  and  tranlitory  things : 
And  thou,  O  Lord,  inhahiteft  in,  nay,  art  thy  ira.57.15, 
felf  Eternity.  Thou  art  in  Heaven ,  I  altogether 
upon  Earth  :  Thou  loveft  high  things,  I  fool- 
ifhly  dote  on  fuch  as  are  vile  and  low.  And  what 
way  can  be  found  to  reconcile  fuch  contrary  Dif- 
pofitions  ? 


CHAP.    IL 

WHen,  wretched  Man,  when  fhall  this  crook- 
ed in  thee  be  made  ftraight ,  and  modelPd 
t>y  the  Rule  and  Pattern  of  thy  God?  He  delights 
in  Solitude  and  retir'd  Contemplation,  I  purfue 
variety  of  Company  and  Diverfions :  He  dwells  in 
Silence,  I  in  Noife  and  Hurry :  He  loves  Truth,  I 
follow  Lies  and  Deceit :  He  requires,  and  is  him- 
felf unfpotted  Purity  5  I  wallow  in  Uncleannels, 
Jind  all  manner  of  filthy  Lufts.  Thus,  Lord,  thou 
^rp  Good ,   and  I  E,vil  >    thou  Holy,    I  a  miferablq 

M  z  Sinners 


^7^  MED  I  TA  T  I  O  N  S. 

a*  I         '  '  '  '      '     '       '  ■  ■  .«i. 

Sinner i   thou  art  light,  I  blindnefs  >    thou  life,    I 

Pfal.39.6.  am  deadj  thou  eflential  Truth,  I  altogether  Vanity. 
Such,  alas!  ami,  and  fuch  is  every  Man  living. 
And  now  what  fhall  I  fay  to  the 2,  my  God  ?  I  am 

111.73.  thy  Creature,  and  reduc'd  to  nothing  j  I'hy  hands 
have  made  me ,  and  fajhioned  me  3  nay,  thy  Hands 
were  nailed  to  the  Crofs  for  me  j   do  not^  my  Crea- 

138.  8.  tor,  defpife  the  work  of  thy  own  hands  j  do  not, 
my  Redeemer,   forget   the  Wounds  of  thy  own 

Ifa. 49.16. Hands.  Behold,  thou  haft  graven  me  upon  the 
Palms  of  thy  Hands  5  O  read  thofe  indelible  Cha- 
ra6tcrs ,  and  fave  me.  To  thee  thy  Creature  lifts 
up  his  Soul,  make  me  again  by  thy  regenerating 
Power  j  infpire  me  with  new  Life,  by  thy  en- 
livening influence  J  heal  my  Breaches,  repair  my 
Decays ,   and  fpare  me  by  thy  Mercy,  for  my  Days 

Pfal,39. 6.  are  even  as  nothing  in  co/nparifon  of  thee. 

Lord,  what  is  Man,   that  he  fhould  prefume  to 
Expoftulate  with ,   or  Addrefs  to  God  his  Maker  ? 

Gen.  18.  Pardon  thy  Servant,   Lord,   who  is  but  Duft  and 

^'!.  Afhes,  and  yet  takes  upon  him  to  fpcak  to  fo  great 

a  Majefty  :  Let  my  neceffity  be  accepted  as  an 
excufe  for  this  boldnels.  -My  Grief  will  have  vent, 
and  my  Calamity  forces  a  complaint.  I  am  Sick, 
and  cry  to  my  Phyfician  for  help  j  blind,  and  feek 
to  the  light  y  dead,  and  implore  the  Hfe  of  Souls, 
For  this  Phyfician,  Light  and  Life  art  thou,   and 

Luke  1 8.  only  thou  5  and  therefore  Jefus  of  Nazareth ,   have 

3  7  >3^>39'  mercy  on  me^  Son  of  David^  have  mercy  on  me.  O  Foun- 
tain of  Health,  hearken  to  the  Complaints  of  thy 
poor  difeafed  Patient.  O  Light  which  paffed  by^ 
ftand  ftill  a  while,  'till  this  blind  Creature  can 
come  to  thee  :    Lend  him  thy  Hand,    and  in  thy 

PfaL36.3.  Light  let  him  fee  light.  O  Life  effential  and  evei> 
lafting,  raife  from  the  Grave  of  Deftrudion  this 
Wretch,  long  dead  in  TrefpafTes  and  Sins.  Lord, 
what  am  I,  who  have  thus  taken  upon  me  to  talk 
to  thee  ?  A  ftinking  Carcafs ,  food  for  Worms,  a 
polluted  broken  VeSel|  fuel  fov  the  fires  of  Hell? 

O  wretched. 


MEDITATIONS.  173 


O  wretched  Creature !    Mercy,  my  God,  Mercy  ! 

for  all  this  and  no  better  is  man  horn  of  a  "woman^  Job  14.  i: 

who  bath  but  a  Jloort  time  to  livey  and  is  full  of  mi- 

fery :  Man  who  is  altogether  vanity^  compared  to  the  prai.39.  c. 

beafts  that  perifiy  and  refembling  them  in  folly.  49.  20. 

But  what  alas !    am  I,   the  worft  of  Men  ?    A 
dark  Abyfs,   a  clod  of  Earth,  a  Child  of  Wrath^  a  Ephef.2.3 
Veffel  of  Difhonour^  conceiv'd  injUncleannefs,  living 
in  Trouble,   dying  in  Anguiih:    Poor  and  naked,2.Tim.  2; 
miferable  and  weak,   not  knowing  whence  I  came  10. 
and  whither  I  go>   whofe  days  pafs  like  a  Jhadow^^^^^'io^* 
whofe  life  withereth  like  grafs.     The  more  is  added ^^* 
to  it,   the  more  is  taken  from  it ;    and  every  ftep 
from  my  Cradle  is  a  nearer  advance  to  my  Grave. 
Who  for  a  while  am  exercis'd  with  the  VicifEtudes 
of  Joy  and  Grief,   of  Health  and  Sicknefs  j    with 
Fear  and  Trembling,    Hunger  and  Thirft,    Heat 
and  Cold,    Languifhing  and  Pains,    and  at  lafl: 
muft  fink  down  and  vanifh  in  Death,    which  hath 
a  thoufand  ways  of  fnatching  Mortals  out  of  the 
World,  when  they  are  leaft  aware  of  it  5  moll  cer- 
tain in  it  felf,   but  in  the  time  and  mannei*,    moll 
uncertain. 

This,  Lord,  is  my  Mifery,  and  yet  I  am  fecure 
in  the  midft  of  all  thefe  Dangers.  So  great  is  my 
Calamity,  fo  little  is  my  Senfe  of  it.  I  will  there- 
fore cry  to  my  God,  before  I  go  away  hence^  and  be  pfai.  39 
no  more  feen.  I  will  confefs  my  vilenefs  before  15. 
'thee,  and  Ihew  thee  all  my  trouble.  Help  me,  my 
Strength,  by  whom  I  am  fullained.  Shine  upon 
me,  my  Light,  by  whom  alone  I  fee :  Come  unto 
me,  and  quicken  me,  my  Life,  by  whom  alone  I 
live.  For  thou  alone  art  my  Help  and  Light,  my 
jLife,  and  my  Joy,  my  Lord^  and  my  God. 


M  4  CHAP. 


174  MEDITATIONS. 


C  H  A  P.    III. 

The  Mifery  of  imregenerate  Man. 

John  I- 1,  /^\  Lord,  the  Word  of  God,  the  Word  it  felf 
V  kJ  God,  thou  art  Light,  and  by  thee  the  Light 

Joh;i4.  6.was  made:    Thou  art  the  Way ^  the  "truth^  and  the 
'Life^  in  whom  is  no  Darknefs  or  Error,  no  Vanity 
Ifa.  5.  20.  or  Death.     Without  thee  /  put  darknefs  for  light ^ 
and  light  for  darknefs.     Without  thee  I  am  all  over 
Confufion  and  Mifbake,    Ignorance  and  Bhndnefs; 
Gen.  1. 3.  Say  to  mj  Soul,  Let  there  heLight^  that  I  may  dif- 
eern  the  light,   and  avoid  darknefs  3    that  I  may  fee 
the  way,   and  be  deliver'd  from  my  wandrings  > 
that  I  may  know  the  Truth,    and  not  be  deceiv'd 
by  Falihcod 3 .that  I  may  attain  the  true  Life,   and 
not  be  fwallow'd  up  in  Death.  Thou  art  my  Lord, 
and. I  will  fear  thee>   my  God,   and  I  will  praife 
thee  j    my   Father  ,    and  I  will  love  thee  j    my 
Spoufe,   and  I  will  keep  my  felf  only  unto  thee. 
Lul^e  I.   Pity  this  defolate  Creature,   which  fits  in  darknefs^ 
*;S,  79-    -and  in  -the  f J  ad Qw  of  deaths   and  guide  my  feet  into 
pral.41.  A- the 'way  of  jpeace^  that  I  may  ^0  into  the  houfe  of  my 
'Gcd^with  the  voice  of  joy  and  thankfgiving.  For,  this 
is  the  way,  by  which  I  muil  return  from  my  Errors, 
into  thee  the  true  way,  even  the  w^ay  of  Life. 

I  will  therefore  approach  thee,  O  Father  of  Hea- 
ven and  Earth,  and  lay  before  thee  all  my  State, 
that  the  frank  Confeflion  of  my  Mifery  may  re- 
com.mend  me  to  thy  Mercy.  I  was  reduc'd  to 
nothing,  nay,  to  worfe  than  nothing,  and  knew 
it  not,  becaufe  thou  art  the  Truth^  and  I  was  not 
with  thee  :  I  was  wounded  with  my  Tranfgref- 
lions,  and  felt  no  Smart,  becaufe  thou  art  theLife^ 
and  I  was  not  with  thee.  I  was  brought  to  no- 
thing, becaufe  thou  art  the  Word^  by  whom  all 
things  were  made,  and  I  was  not  with'  thee.  For 
Gen.  I.  Qfodifazv  all  things  that  ha  had  'made  .^and  behold  they 
13'  ^  'UJcr^ 


MEDITATIONS.  i/y 


fwere  'very  good.  They  mull  be  fo,  becaufe  nothing  John  1.3. 
rwas  made  'without  him ,  and  nothing  that  is  good 
can  be  otherwile  fo,  but  by  its  participation  of,  and 
Vinion  with ,  the  Supreme  Good :  But  God  made 
not  Evil,  nor  hath  it  any  Being  of  its  own,  but  is 
pnly  a  privation  of  Good ,  and  is  therefore  No- 
thing, and  makes  the  committers  of  it  in  God's 
Account  nothing  too ,  as  being  made  without  the 
Word,  without  which  nothing  that  hath  an  actual 
Exigence  was  made>  and  therefore  is  it  Evil,  be- 
caufe it  proceeds  not  from ,  and  hath  no  part  in, 
that  Good ,  by  which  all  things  inere  made.  And 
confequently  to  be  without  the  JVord^  is  to  be  no- 
thing 'y  and  Evil  argues  a  defeat  only ,  and  not  a 
pofitive  effect,  becaufe  all  things  that  are,  are  by 
the  Word. 

Now  what  it  is  to  be  without  the  Word,  is  eafy 
to  be  underltood  from  that  Defcription  given  of 
himfelf,  I  am  the  Way ^  the  'Truth  and  the  Life :  He  John  14-6- 
that  is  without  thefe ,   is  without  the  Word  -,  and 
to  be  without  him  is  Evil,    becaufe  it   feparates 
from  the  Author  of  all  Good :    It  is  alfo  to  be  no- 
thing,   becaufe  it  infers  a  defe6t,    a  privation  of 
living  in  and  with  him ,   by  whom  all  things  that 
Exiitare,   and  are  made  good.     So  often  then  as 
we  depart  from  Good ,    fo  oft  we  depart  from  the 
Word,    and  from  our  proper  Exiitence.     And  I 
thank  thee,  O  Lord,    for  fo  far  enlightening  mc 
with  the  knowledge  of  thee,   and  of  my  felf,   as 
to  make  me  fenlible,  that  whenfoever  I  forget  that 
which  is  Good ,   and  corrupt  my  felf  with  Evil,  I 
am  transform'd  from  what  I  was ,   lofe  my  Spiri- 
tual Life  and  Being,   and  am  cut  off  from  thee. 
Wretch  that  I  was ,    not  to  confider  this  before ! 
How  low  I  fell,   and  how  exa6tly  that  Defcription 
of  the  Heathen  Idols  fuited  the  Condition  of  my 
Soul 5    for  this  too,   during  my  Separation    from 
thee.  Hath  ears  and  hears  not^   nofe  and  finells  not^?[zl  ij. 
eyes  and  fees  not ^  mouth  and  freaks  not .^  hands  andaBs  >.  6,  7. 
'.        /  ^  notj 


i7d  MEDITATIONS. 


not.  In  ihort,  is  nothing  but  an  empty  Form,  the 
Lines  and  Proportions  of  every  Part,  without  the 
\J[c  and  Senfation  proper  to  any  of  them. 

So  true  it  is,  that  while  I  was  without  thee,  I 
was  not  at  all  -,  but  fell  back  into  nothing ;  blind 
and  deaf,  and  infenfible  to  do  good,  having  no 
inclination,  no  know^ledgc  to  avoid  Evil.  Hence, 
bad  my  Enemies  their  will  upon  me  >  they  ftripp'd 
and  wounded,  they  fpoil'd  and  flew  me,  becaufe  I 
departed  from  thee,  my  Light  and  my  Defence.  But, 
O  God  of  my  Life,  raife  me,  I  pray  thee,  from 
this  Death.  Look  upon  me  in  the  Day  of  my 
Trouble ,  and  fave  me  from  the  Hand  of  the  in- 
fulting  Adverfaries.  Let  them  that  hate  mx  flee 
before  thee ,  and  let  me  live  in  thee,  and  by  thee. 
They  faw  my  Mifery  ',  and  had  me  in  deriiion, 
they  divided  my  Virtues,  thofe  Garments  giveni 
to  adorn  my  Soul,  among  them,  and  rode  over 
my  Head  !  They  defiled  thy  holy  Temple  with 
Filth  and  Sin,  and  brought  me  into  Ruin  and 
Defolation:  They  led  me  Captive  from  one  wick-- 
ednefs  into  another,  and  dragg'd  me  through  Mire 
and  Clay.  I  was  a  Slave,  and  in  love  with  my 
Bondage  j  Blind,  and  loved  darknefs  rather  than 
light  \  tied  and  boimd ,  and  fond  of  my  Chains. 
Miferable,  and  knew  it  not.  And  all,  becaufe 
feparatcd  from  that  Almighty  Word,  by  which 
every  Creature  fubfifbs,  and  is  preferv'd.  O  do 
thou  from  henceforth  unite  me  to  thy  felfj  for, 
when  I  go  from  thee,  I  periflij  and  can  no  other 
way  be  reflor*d  to  Being,  but  by  that  Power 
making  a  new  Creature,  which  at  the  firft  did 
make  me  out  of  nothing.  And,  blefTed  be  that 
Power  and  Mercy,  which  vifited  me  when  I  of- 
fended, rais'd  me  up  when  I  was  fallen,  taught 
me  when  I  was  ignorant,  and  gave  fight  to  my 
E-yes  when  I  was  blind. 


CHAP, 


&. 


MEDITATIONS.  177 


CHAP.    IV. 

\/4n  AEi  of  Traife  for  God's  manifold  Mercies 
in  Marls  pre fent  State, 

TEach  me,  my  God,  how  much  I  ought  to 
love  thee,  how  thankfully  I  ought  to  praife 
thee,  how  carefully  I  ought  to  pleafe  thee.  Let 
the  voice  of  thy  Thunder  be  heard  from  above , 
and  pierce  the  Ears  of  my  ilupid  Heart  j  that  I 
may  magnify  that  Goodncfs,  which  created  me 
when  as  yet  I  was  not  5  which  enlightened  me 
when  I  was  in  darknefs  j  which  revived  me  when 
I  was  dead  5  which  fuflaincd  me  from  my  Youth 
up  with  its  Bounty  5  and  Hill  cherilhes  this  vile, 
ufelefs,  loathfome  Worm ,  with  the  good  gifts  of 
its  right  and  left  Hand. 

Open  to  me,  O  Key  of  David^  which  opene ft ^  ^;^^  Re  v.  3. 7. 
no  Man  ftoutteth  againil  him  to  whom  thou  openeft  > 
and  jhutteth^  and  no  Man  openeth  to  him  againfl  whom 
thou  fhuttell  3   open  to  me,  Holy  and  Y'rue^  that  I 
may  enter  into  thy  Light,  and  fee,  and  know,  and 
thank  "thee  with  my  whole  Heart.    ¥ov  great  is  ihy?h\.  85. 
mercy  toward  me^   and  thou  haft  delhered  my  Soul  ^  3  • 
from  the  nether  mo  ft  Hell.     O  Lord^   my  God^   how  '  ^* 

excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  world  I  PFhat  is  Man 
that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  ?  or  the  Son  of  Man 
that  thou  viftteft  him  ?  O  hope  of  thy  Saints ,  and 
hfe  of  my  Soul,  by  whom  I  live,  and  without 
whom  I  die>  light  of  my  Eyes,  and  joy  of  my 
Heart,  let  me  love  thee  v/ith  all  my  Mind,  and 
with  all  my  Strength  j  bccaiife  thy  Bowels  are  fo 
wonderfully  enlarg'd,  and  thou  hail:  firft  loved  me 
with  an  exceeding  Love. 

And  whence  is  this  to  me,   that  the  Creator  ofi'fal.16.2. 
Heaven  and  Earth ,   and  of  the  Great  Deep,    to 
whom  my  Goods  cannot  extend,    cannot  add  any 
fhing,    ilioiild   vouchfife   ;o   love   a  Creature  of 

whom 


1/8  MEDITATIONS. 

whom  he  hath  no  need  ?  O  Wifdom,  O  Word  of 
God,  which  enablefl;  the  dumb  to  fpeak,  open  my 
Mouth,  and  infpire  me  with  thy  Praife,  that  I  may 
thankfully  recount  the  Benefits,  which  thou  hail 
from  the  beginning  conferr'd  upon  thy  Servant. 
My  very  Being  is  from  thy  Gift  >  I  am,  becaufe 
thou  madeft  me  5  and  this  was  ordain'd  by  thee 
from  all  Eternity  5  before  the  Mountains  were 
brought  forth,  or  the  great  Depths  broken  up; 
before  the  Earth  was  fix'd  upon  its  Foundations,  or 
the  Heavens  llretch'd  out  as  a  Curtain  j  I  was 
written  in  thy  Book,  and  numbred  among  thy 
Creatures  by  an  everlafling  Decree,  a  certain  fore- 
fight  of  every  thing  that  ihould  be,  long  before  it 
was. 

And  what,  O  merciful  Father,  and  moil  migh- 
ty Creator,  what  could  there  be  in  me,  to  de- 
ferve,  what  to  incline,  thy  glorious  Majeily,  to 
make  me  ?  What  indeed ,  fince  I  was  not  ?  And 
thou  madefl  me  not  a  drop  of  Water,  a  fpark 
of  Fire,  nor  a  Bird  or  Fifh,  not  a  Brute  or  an  In- 
fcft,  not  a  Stone  or  a  Tree  5  Not  one  of  thofe 
Creatures  to  whom  thou  hafl  imparted  Being  with- 
out Lifcj  nor  of  thofe  who  have  Life  \\«thout 
Senfe  j  nor  yet  of  thofe ,  who  have  Senfe  without 
Reafon  :  But  a  Creature  fuperior  to  all  thofe  j  a 
Pfal  8. 5.  little  lower  than  the  Angels^  becaufe  partaker  of  an 
intelligent  Spirit,  common  to  Man  with  them,  by 
thy  merciful  diftribution ,  and  moil  wife  appoints 
ment.  But  ftill  a  little  lower  than  the  Angels^  be- 
caufe they  are  happy  in  that  knowledge  of  thy 
Glories,  which  they  attain  by  Sight,  but  I  by 
1  Cor,  13.  Faith  and  Hope  onlyj  they  fee  thee  face  to  face ^  I 
^"  darkly  through  a  glafs  y   they  know  xh^c  fully  ^   las 

yet  but  in  part. 


I 


CHAP. 


t4. 

MEDITATIONS.  179 


C  H  A  P.    V. 

The  Excellency  of  Maris  Future  State,       Chap.  8. 

T'His  is  my  prefent  condition,  but  this  condition 
will  not  lail  always.     For  inhen  that  which  is  ^  Cor.  15." 
perfect  is  come^  then  that  which  is  in  part  JJoall he  done  ^^' 
away,  then  fhall  we  with  open  face  behold  the  glory  2.  Cor.  3. 
of  the  Lord^  and  he  changed  our  fehes  into  the  fame  i^* 
image  of  him  we  behold.    What  fhall  then  hinder  us 
from  being  no  longer  a  little  lower  than  the  Angels^ 
whom  thou  haft  already  crowned  with  hope,  and 
ihalt  then  crown  with  glory  and  honour^  whom  thou  Pfal.  8.  j; 
delighteft  to  honour  as  thy  friends  and  favourites, 
and   advanceft  to  a  dignity   and   happinefs   in  all 
points  like  Theirs  ?   Thus  hath  thy  truth  declared, 
that  They  who  fhall  be  accounted  worthy  to  obtain  that  ^"^^  ^^« 
world^^  are  equal  to  the  Angels^  and  are  the  children  of '^^^  ^'^^ 
God.     Children  of  God,  in  the  moft  beneficial  and 
exalted  fenfe,   if  equal  to  the  Angels  j   and  there- 
fore Sons  of  God,    becaufe  the  Son  of  God  was 
made  the  Son  of  Man.     The  confideration  of  this 
Myftery  gives  me  the  Confidence  to  fay,  not  only 
that  Man  is  little  lower  than  the  Angels,  not  only 
that  he  is  equal  to  the  Angels,  but  that  in  fome 
refpects  he  is  even  fuperior  to  the  Angels  5   in  that 
Man,  not  Angel,   is  God  ^   and  God  vouch fafed  to 
be  made,  not  x'Vngel,  but  Man. 

This  honour  done  to  our  Nature  gives  Man  a 
Prerogative  above  any  other  Creature  whatfoever  > 
For  the /Vord^  which  was  in  the  beginning  with  God^  Job.  i.rz; 
and  was  God^   that  Word  which  faid.  Let  there  be  Ij^  i. 
Light ^  and  there  was  Light ^  (by  which  created  Light  ^^"«  i-  3* 
fome  underftand  thofe  Intelleftual  Spirits  the  An- 
gels) that  Word,  by  which  God  made  all  things 
in  the  beginning,   was  made  flefo^   and  dwelt  in  us^  Joh.  t.i4= 
and  we  have  feen  his  glory.     This  is  that  Glory,  in 
which  I  glory :    This  the  Joy  in  which  I  rejoice. 

T  ac- 


8o  MEDITATIONS. 


I  acknowledge  therefore,  O  Lord,  my  Life,  my 
Joy  and  Glory,  that  in  making  me  a  Creature  capa- 
ble of  Reafon,  thou  haft  made  me  in  fome  re- 
gard equal  to  the  Angels  5  becaufe  this  gives  me  a 
capacity  of  being  made  perfect  by  thy  Word,  and 
receiving  the  adoption  of  Sons  by  thy  only  bcgot- 

Mat.3.17  ten  Sonj  that  beloved  Son  in  whom  thou  art  well 
plcafed  -y  thy  confubftantial  coeternal  Heir ,  Jefus 
Chrift  our  only  Lord  and  Redeemer  5  Our  Inligh- 

^  J^^^-^  tener.  and  Comforter,  Our  u^dvocate  with  the  Fa- 
ther.     Our  Life,  and  Saviour,  and  only  Hope,  who 

Eph  3.12.  loved  us  more  tenderly  than  his  own  body,  by  whom 
we  have  boldnefs  and  accefs  with  confidence  to  Thee, 

J  oh.  Mi.  becaufe  he  hath  given  us  power  to  become  the  Sons  of 
God^  even  to  as  many  as  believe  in  his  name, 

I  will  magnify  thy  name,  O  Lord,  for  that  by 

Gen.1.26.  creating  me  in  thy  own  Image  after  thy  likenefs, 
thou  hall  given  me  a  capacity  of  fuch  excellent 
glory,  as  to  become  a  Child  of  God.  This  is  an 
honour  of  w^hich  Trees  and  Stones,  and  all  the 
Vegetable  and  Senfitive  World,  whether  of  Crea- 
tures in  the  Air,  or  Earth,  or  Sea,  are  totally  ex- 
cluded. To  whom  thou  haft  not  granted  the 
power  of  becoming  thy  Children,  becaufe  they 
are  not  endued  with  Reafon.  For  in  that  Reafon 
by  which  we  attain  to  the  Knowledge  of  God, 
does  this  Capacity  confift  5  and  therefore  Man 
alone  is  happy  in  it,  becaufe  refembling  his  hea- 
venly Father  in  the  dignity  and  perfections  of  a 
Rational  Soul.  Thus  to  thy  Favour  and  Goodnefs 
1  owe  my  being  a  Man,  and  to  a  yet  higher  de- 
gree of  the  fame  Goodnefs,  that,  being  Man  by 
r^ature,  I  am  qualified  for  becoming  thy  Child 
by  Grace  j  which  no  other  of  the  Creatures  in 
this  lower  world  can  be. 

And  whence  is  this  to  me,  thou  Univerfal  Au- 
thor and  Maker  of  every  Creature  •,  whence,  that 
I  fhould  be  fo  fignally  honoured  above  the  reft  of 
the  Works  of  thy  hands  ?  Thou  art  the  fame  from 

.  and 


MEDITATIONS.  i8 

^nd  to  all  Eternity,  and  didll  in  time  create  all 
things  in  the  fpace  of  fix  days.  Man  and  Beafts, 
Stones  and  Trees,  were  produced  together.  No 
antecedent  merits  of  their  own  contributed  to  that 
produ6i:ion  j  For  how  could  they  deferve,  who 
as  yet  were  not  ?  It  was  of  thy  Goodnefs  alone 
that  they  had  a  Being  communicated  to  them, 
and  all  in  this  refpe^t  were  equal,  that  all  were  a- 
likc  undefemng.  How  came  it  then  to  pafs,  that 
this  Creature  whom  thou  endueft  with  Reafon, 
fhould  receive  fuch  a  pecuhar,  fuch  abundant 
marks  of  thy  Love  ?  Why  were  not  They  advanced 
to  the  fame  level  with  me,  or  I  at  leaft  thrult 
down  to  the  fame  with  Them  ?  Had  I  any  right, 
any  pretence  at  all,  to  that  glorious  Privilege  of 
being  made  capable  of  this  Divine  Sonfhip.^  Far 
be  it  from  me.  Lord,  to  entertain  fo  vain  a 
thought.  No,  no,  it  was  thy  Goodnefs,  thy 
free  Grace  alone,  that  made  this  diftincbion  (o 
!_  much  to  my  advantage  •,  that  I  might  fee,  and  feel, 
and  tafte,  and  paitake  largely  of  thy  mercy.  And 
therefore  by  that  Grace,  which  thus  appeared  fo 
liberally  in  thy  firft  Creation,  I  humbly  implore 
thee  to  make  me  a  new  Creature  -,  and  grant  me 
grace  to  be  duly  thankful  for  the  infinite .  Good- 
nefs thus  extended  to  me. 


C  H  A  P.    VI. 

Of  the  Almighty  Tower  of  God.  Ch.  9. 10, 

THY  mighty  Hand,  at  all  times  and  upon  all 
occafions  the  fame,  created  Angels  in  Hea- 
ven, and  Worms  upon  Earth  5  nor  was  the  one  of 
thefe  Operations  left  a  denionflration  of  thy  Om- 
nipotence than  the  other.  For  as  no  hand  but 
thine  could  give  Being  to  Creatures  fo  noble  as 

the         * 


8z  MEDITATIONS. 


the  Angels,  fo  none  but  thine  could  frame  tHevileft 
Infc6t.  Thine  only  could  fpread  out  the  Firma- 
ment, thine  only  could  produce  the  leaft  fpire  of 
Grafs.  Thine  only  could  fafhion  thefe  wonderful 
Bodies  of  ours,  thine  only  make  the  leaft  hair  of 
our  heads  white  or  black  :  For  to  that  power 
which  knows  no  bounds,  all  things  are  not  only 
poflible,  but  are  equally  fo. 
Matth.  6.  To  Thee  there  is  the  fame  difficulty  in  making 
36.  a  Worm,   as  an  Angelj   to  Thee  the  fame  eafe  in 

creating  the  whole  Heaven,  as  a  (ingle  Leaf^  the 
colouring  a  Hair,  and  compa6ting  a  Body,  are  the 
fame  thing,  and  the  Almighty  finds  no  difference 
between  hanging  the  Earth  upon  the  Waters,  and 
Pfal.  1 3 5. Supporting  the  Waters  by  dry  Ground.  Whatever 
6.  pleafed  Him  was  done  in  heaven  and  in  earthy  and  in 

the  fea^  and  in  all  deep  places  >  and  done  exadtly  as 
it  pleafed  him.  He  made  them  all,  and  me  among 
the  reft,  according  to  the  excellency  of  his  wifdom, 
and  fkill,  and  power,  and  good  pleafure.  Thy 
hand,  hadft  thou  thought  fit,  could  have  made  me 
a  Stone,  or  a  Bird,  or  a  Serpent,  or  any  of  the 
Brutal  kind>  but  fuch  was  thy  Goodnefs,  that  it 
would  not.  If  then  I  would  be  fitisfied  why  I  am 
none  of  thefc,  but  a  Creature  by  far  more  excel- 
lent than  all  thefe  3  no  other  anfwcr  can  be  re- 
turned to  that  quellion,  but  this,  that  thy  won- 
drous Goodnefs  was  pleafed  thus  to  order  it,  and 
that  it  did  thus  order  without  any  confideration 
on  my  part  to  deferve,  or  any  way  incline  thee 
to  grant  me  fuch  preference  above  the  Creatures 
of  lower  attainments,  and  lefs  honourable  fta- 
tion. 

How  fliall  I  therefore  praife  thee,  moft  mighty 
Lord  ?  How  fiiall  I  be  able  to  contribute  to  thy 
glory,  who  could  contribute  nothing  to  my  own 
cxiifence  ?  Let  thy  own  works  magnify  thee,  ac- 
cording to  the  gfcatnefs  and  multitude  of  thy 
power  ajid  mercies.     Thy  praife  is  too  vaft  to  be 

com- 


MEDITATIONS.  183 

comprehended  by  thought,  exprell  by  words^  or 
heard  by  any  mortal  ear.  Thefc  all  are  finite,  and 
pals  away  >  but  thy  glory  is  infinite,  and  the  praiie 
of  it  endureth  for  ever.  Our  thoughts  begin,  and 
foon  come  to  an  end,  our  words  form  different 
founds,  and  vanifh  into  air,  our  ear  receives  im- 
^reilion  of  thofe  founds,  and  quickly  lofes  'em  again, 
but  thy  praife  is  fixed,  and  abideth  to  all  eternity. 

What  mortal  Man  then  is  fufficient  lo  tell  thy  no-  pfal.  io6, 
hleMs^  or  fet  forth  all  thy  praife?  He  praifes  thee  in-  2.. 
deed,   who  acknowledges  himfelf  unable  to  praife 
thee.     We   only   praife  thee  in  and   by  thy  felf, 
and  all  our  praife  is  in  thee.     Then  have  we  true 
praife,  when  thou  approveft  thy  own  works  in  us  > 
When  we  feek  it  from  any  other,    we  lofe  true 
praife  j   for  that  is  tranfitory,  thine  Eternal,  and  as 
oft  as  the  tranfitory  is  grafped  at,   the  eternal  flips 
away  from  us.      Let   me  therefore  love  and  feek 
thee  alone,  from  whom  is  true  and  lafting  praife. 
Give  me  thy  felf,  and  fo  fhall  I  be  able  to  praife 
thee  J  for,  What  am  I  without  thee,  but  dult  and 
afhes,   a  dead  dog,   a  loathfome  Carcafs,   and  how  ^     , . 
fhould  death  and  corruption  praife  the  God  of  the  ^^  ^^' 
Spirits  of  allflejh^  that  inhabit  eth  Eternity?  I  fa*  5  7. 15.^ 

Can  Darknefs  praife  Light,  and  Death  Life? 
Yet  fuch  is  the  difference  between  Thee  and  me. 
Thou  art  Light,  I  am  Darknefs :  Thou  art  Life^ 
I  am  Death :  Thou  an  Eternal  Subftance,  I  Vanity 
and  Nothing.  And  can  a  rriortal  man,  who  to  day 
is,  and  to  morrow  is  not,  praife  him  that  endures 
the  fame  for  ever  ?  Can  rottennefs  and  worms  add 
to  the  glory  of  the  Great  God  }  Can  he  that  is  con- 
ceiv'd  and  born,  and  brought  up  in  fin,  praife  that 
hohnefs  whofe  pure  eyes  cannot  behold  iniquity? 
No,  my  God,  let  thy  own  incomprehenfible  Power 
and  Wifdom,  and  Goodnefs,  thy  boundlefs  Mercy 
and  unfpeakable  Clemency ;  let  thefe,  for  thefe  a- 
lone  are  qualified  to  fet  forth  thy  praifes.  Even  that 
Almighty  Power,  and  infinite  Love,    by  which 

N  thou 


184  MEDITATIONS. 

thou  halt  created  me  to  natural,   and  regenerated 
me  to  Spiritual  Life,  O  God,  the  Life  of  my  Soul. 


CHAP.    VIL 

Chip.  iV.A  Grayer  for  the  "Divine  Grace  and  7rote5iionl 

Will  therefore  rejoice  under  the  fhadow  of  thy 
wings,  and  hope  in  thy  Goodnefs,  which  firlt 
gave  me  Being.  Thy  Bounty  made  me,  let  it  alfo 
help  me  j  preferve  that  Creature  which  thy  Good- 
nefs made,  from  periihing  in  its  own  wickednefs 
and  mifery.  For  how  am  I  the  better  for  being 
made,   if  I  be  fuffered  to  fink  into  my  own  Cor- 

Pf.  89.47.  ruption?  Haft  th  011^  my  God,  created  man  for  nought? 

138.  8.  Defpife  not  then  the  work  of  thy  own  hands :  but  go- 
vern and  preferve  it.  Thou  madeil  me  out  of  no- 
thing, and  if  thou  leavefh  me  deilitute  of  thy  pro-- 
tediion,  I  fliall  quickly  return  to  nothing.  For  as 
I  was  not,  when  thou  firlt  commandedll  me  into 
Being,  fo  unlcfs  thou  be  pleafed  to  aflift  and  fup-- 
port  me,,  there  is  that  principle  of  deil:ru6bion  in- 
me,  which  will  foon  make  me  not  to  be  again. 

Help  me  therefore,  thou  God  of  my  Life,  that 
I  periih  not.  Hadft  thou  not  made  me,  I  had  ne- 
ver been  at  all  :  Becaufe  thou  madeil:  me  1  am 
what  I  am  5  but  if  thou  preferve  me  not,  I  am  no 
more.  Let  then  that  Love,  which  prevail'd  with 
thee  to  give  me  Being ,  prevail  alfo  for  the  gover- 
nance and  prefervation  of  that  Being.  Save  what 
thou  haft  created,  and  corapleat  thy  mercy  5  for 
better  were  it  never  to  have  created  me,  than  to 
create  me  for  iin  and  deftrudion.  The  Benefit  I 
afk,  is  not  lefs  than  that  vouchfafcd  already  j  Thy 
love  is  ftill  the  fame,  for  thou  hateft  nothing  that 
thou  haft  made,   and  art  the  fame  kind  God,  even 

Ifai.  59.1,  Love  it  felf.   Thy  hand  is  7iot  ftyortned^  that  it  cannot 

3.  fave^  neither  thy  heavy  ear^  th^t  it  cannot  hear  >  hut  my^ 


MEDIT  A-TION  S.  i8; 

iniquities  ha-ve  feparated  between  mc  and  my  God^  be- 
tween darkncfs  and  light,  between  the  fhadow  of 
death  and  life,  between  falHiood  and  truth  >  be-, 
tween  my  periHaing,  and  thy  enduring  and  ever- 
laftin^  fubitance. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

A  Trayer  againft  Evil  T^efires.  ch.12,13; 

THefe  are  the  thick  fhades  of  night,  with  which. 
1  am  encompafs'd  in  the  dark  Dungeon  of 
this  mortal  Body,  till  the  day  dawn^and  the  day  ftar  ^^p^x,  i; 
arife  in  my  heart.    O  that  thy  powerful  voice  would  19. 
iflue  that  irrefiftable  Command,    Let  there  he  light !  Gen.  1.2^ 
fo  fhould  darknefs  difperfe  from  off  the  face  of  the  3» 
deep^  fo  the  dry  land  appear  and  bring  forth  abun- 
dantly the  green  herb,   and  the  fruit  of  righteouf- 
ne{s  after  his  kind.     O  Father  of  Life,   leave  me 
not  under  the  power  of  wicked  Imaginations,  nor 
give  me  a  proud  look :    But  turn  away  from  thy  eccIus." 
Servant  an  haughty  mind  and  vain  concupifcence,!}.  4»  5» 
and  pollefs  my  Heart  with  thy  grace,  that  I  may 
ferve   and   always  think  on  Thee  with  reverence 
and  godly  fear. 

Enlighten  my  Eyes  that  they  may  fee  thee,  and 
not  exalt  themfelves  -,  but  gaze  with  humble  won- 
der on  the  things  that  are  too  high  to  be  thorough- 
ly perceived :  And  fix  my  fight  and  defires  on  the 
blelTings  of  thy  right,  and  not  on  thofe  of  thy  left 
Hand.  Attrad  my  heart  with  that  Goodnefs  thou 
haft  laid  up  for  them  that  fear  thee,  that  I  may 
love  thee  with  everlafting  love  ,  aiid  not  wander 
after  vain  objects,  and,  blinded  with  their  deceit- 
ful appearance,  put  hitter  for  fweet^  and  fvjeet  for  rfj,_  ^^  -^.qI 
bitter  ',  darknefs  for  light ^  and  light  for  darknefs : 
But  that   by   thy  giacious  guidance  and  mighty 

N  2.  pro^ 


i8(5  MEDITATIONS. 

prote^ion,  I  may  be  fafely  led,  and  efcape  thofe 
manifold  Snares  which  the  fubtile  nature  of  our 
common '  Enemy  lays  every  where  in  our  way  to 
catch  unwary  Souls.  Of  which,  he  who  wifely 
had  confidercd  our  danger,,  hath  given  us  this  fair 
I  John  1.  warning,  yf//  that  is  in  the  JVorld^  is  the  luft  of  the 
i6.  Fleflj^  the  deftres  of  the  Eyes^  and  the  pride  of  Life, 

r  Since  then  every  place  is  fo  thick  fet  with  Snares^ 
and  every  ilep  we  take  fo  full  of  hazard,  who  fhall 
be  able  to  promife  himfelf  Safety  ?  Surely  none  but 
he  whom'  thou  fecureft  from  the  dejire  of  the  Eyes^ 
by  taking  from  him  a  proud  look  j  none  but  He, 
whom  thou  defended  againft  the  lufi  of  the  fleflj^ 
by  turning  from  him  vain  concupifcence :  None  but 
He,  whom  thou  haft  made  proof  againft  the  pride 
of  life^  by  delivering  him  from  a  haughty  and  in- 
folent  and  profane  mind.  Happy  the  Man  who  is 
J^fal  S9.  thus  arm'd,  thus  prote(Sted  j  His  Enemies  fhall  not 
^2"  he  able  to  do  him  violence^  the  Son  of  'wi eke dnefs  fhall 

not  hurt  him. 

i  beg  thee  therefore,   O  my  Redeemer,   for  thy 

own  mercies  fake,   let  me  not  fall  into  the  fnares 

laid  for  me,   nor  give  the  adverfary  occafion  to  tri- 

Pfal.68.i,umph  in  my  ruin.     Let  my  God  arife^  and  let  his 

^*  enemies  he  fcattered^  yea^   let  them  which  hate  him 

flee  before  him.     Like  as  the  fmoak  'vanifJjeth^  fo  do 

thou  drive  them  away  >  and  like  as  the  wax  meltetb 

at  the  fire^  fo  let  the  ungodly  periflo  at  the  prefence  of 

God.     Thou,  Lord,  art  the  Father  of  the  father^ 

lefs,  hear  the  cry  of  thy  defolate  and  helplefs  Chrl- 

Pfal.  1 2, 1 .  dren.     Sleep  not^  nor  flumber^  O  thou  keeper  o-f  If" 

4.  rael^   for  the  watchful  Enemy  that  labours  IfraeVs 

deftruftion,  doth  neither  flumber  nor  fleep. 

O  Eighty  before  which  all  other  hght  is  dark- 
nefs,  which  no  night  can  damp,  no  obftrudion 
intercept,  no  blindnefs  ihut  outj  Thou  that  en- 
lightneft  every  thing  in  every  part,  at  once  and 
always  receive  me  in  thy  brightnefs,  that  I  may 
fee  thee  in  thy  felf,  and  my  felf  in  thee,  and  all 
I  things 


MEDITATIONS.  187 

things  elfe  under  thee.  If  thou  withdraw  thy  Shin- 
ing, the  clouds  of  niy  ignorance  gather,  and  I  am 
overwhelmed  with  Sin  and  Error.  All  is  black,  all 
evil  without  thecj  for  what  can  poflibly  be  good, 
which  is  deftitute  of  thee ,  the  True,  the  Chief, 
xhe  only  Good  ? 

I  know,  O  Lord,  and  acknowledge,  that  befides 
thee  alone  not  only  all  without,  but  all  within 
me,  is  Mifery  and  Want.  And  otherwife  than 
wretched  I  cannot  be,  when  diftrafted  by  the  vaft 
variety  of  worldly  Obje6ts,  and  drawn  off  from 
thee,  the  one  fupreme  Good.  I  purfue  firfl  one, 
and  then  another,  but  cannot  meet  with-  fatisfacbioa 
from  any :  I  flarve  in  the  midft  of  plenty,  and  am 
but  mock'd  with  the  empty  pomp  of  a  Feafl,  when 
my  Soul  feeds  on  any  thing  but  thee  5  for  thou 
alone  canft  fatisfy  my  hunger,  all  wage  my  pains, 
and  fill  my  large  defires. 

How  wretched,  doubly  wretched,,  is  that  Soul^ 
>vhich  forfakes  thee  ,  with  whom  is  fulnefs  and 
joy,  to  follow  the  World ,  where  it  is  fure  to  fuf- 
fer  poverty  and  pain  ?  The  World  cries  out,  I  can- 
not fatisfy  thee  •,  thou  fiiyeft^  Eat  and  let  thy  Soul 
be  fatisfiedj  and  yet  (fuch  is  the  perverfeneis  of 
my  appetite)  I  follow  after  that  which  cannot,  and 
forfake  that  which  can  and  would  content  ms. 
Con:e6t,  O  Spiritual  Phyiician ,  this  diforderly  ea- 
gernefs  for  Trafh,  and,  help  me  to  relifh  the  whole- 
fome  food  of  Souls :  and  to  Ifibour  for  that  mec^t  y-^\^^  5^ 
'which  endureth  to  e'verlafiing  life.  ^7* 

The  great  things  thou  hall  done  for  me  already 
encourage  me  to  afk  and  hope  for  more.  I  was  not, 
an4  tbou  gaveft  me  Being  j  I  was  loft  and  thou  haft 
reftored  me  5  dead  and  thou  haft  raifed  mej  thou 
enduredft  death  to  purchafe  my  life  j  and  tho'  the 
King  of  Heaven  deliveredft  up  thy  Perfon  to  ran^- 
fom  the  leaft  and  moft  unworthy  of  thy  Subjetis, 
thy  Blood  was  not  thought  a  Price  too  dear  for  my 
Redemption,   and  I  may  truly  fay,  that  in  fome 


i88  MEDITATIONS. 

fenfe,  thou  lovcdft  me  better  than  thy  felf,  fince 
thou  weit  content  to  die  for  my  fake.  By  fo  gra- 
cious a  Covenant,  by  fo  precious  a  Ranfom,  am  I 
redeem'd  from  flavery  and  exile,  from  punifhment 
and  death.  And  that  the  remembrance  of  fuch 
aftonifhing  Mercies  might  be  for  ever  frefh  and 
prefent  with  me,  thou  haft  called  me  by  thy 
Name,  marked  me  for  thy  own  \vith  thy  Blood, 
anointed  me  with  that  Oil  of  the  holy  Spirit, 
T  John 2..  with  which  thy  felf  waft  anointed,  and  diftin- 
"^^'  guiftied  me  with  the  moft  honourable  of  all  Titles, 

that  of  Chrijiian.  Thus  have  thy  Grace  and  Mer- 
cy all  along  prevented  me.  And  infinite  are  the 
dangers  from  which  thou  haft  deliver'd  me.  Thou 
-haft  been  my  Guide  and  Teacher,  when  I  ftrayed 
through  ignorancc'v  my  Reprover  and  Correfter 
when  1  oifended  through  carelefnefs  or  prefump- 
tionj  my  Comfort  in  Trouble,  my  Support  in 
Defpair  ^  whe»  I  fell,  thou  tookeft  me  up  5  when 
I  ftood,  it  was  becaufe  thou  upheldeft  mx,  when 
I  advanced ,  thou  condu6]:edft  me  ;  v/hcn  T  ap- 
proached, thou  receivedft  me  j  when  I  ftept,  thou 
didft  guard  me  3  when  I  cry'd  thou  didft  hear  and 
anfwer  me. 


C  H  A  P.     IX. 

Chap.  14.  Of  Gods  feeing  all  the  ABions  and  Intentions 

of  Men, 

THefe  and  innumerable  other  Mercies,  I  thank- 
fully afcribe  to  thee,  my  God,  and  recollect 
with  fuch  a  fenfible  delight,  that  I  could  dwell  up- 
on them  for  ever  j  and  wiih.  to  fpeak,  and  think  of 
thee  alone  j  to  love  thee  with  all  my  Heart ,  and 
]VL^;d,  and  Strength,  and,  with  every  Faculty  and 
Part  of  my  Soul  and  Body  be  conftantly  employ- 
ed 


MEDITATIONS.  189 


ed  in  praifing  thee.  O  how  blefTed  are  thoie 
pious  Men  who  can  rejoice  in  thee  !  But  thou, 
my  God,  feeft  all  my  imperfedions,  and  how  far 
dillant  I  am  from  this  happinefs.  Thy  Eyes  are 
a  thoufand  times  more  piercing  than  the  Sun,  pe- 
netrating the  deepell  and  darivcil  receflcs ,  and 
watching  continually  in  every  'place  to  behold  the?iQv.i^. 
£vil  and  the  good.  ^        3- 

For  thou,   who  filled  and  governed  all  things, 
haft  a  conftant  regard  to  the  Work  of  thy  own 
Hands:  Hadft  thou  not  loved  thy  Creatures ,    thou 
hadft  not  made  them  >    and  the  lame  love  which 
made,   will  always  continue    to  guide,    and  pre- 
ferve,   and  watch  over  them.     Thus  thou  art  ever 
prefent  with  me,   always  marking  well  my  goings, 
and  numbreft  all  my  fteps :    Thou  ftandeft  over  me 
as  a  watchful  Centinel,   and  obferveft  me  as  nicely 
as  if  all  care  of  every  thing  befides  had  been  dif- 
.mift,   and  I  remain'd  the  only  Objed  of  thy  Con- 
cern >  for  fo  entire,   fo  unalterable  is  the   perfedi- 
on  of  thy  Sight  and  Knowledge,   that  it  is  neither 
more  exa6t  by  being  confin'd  to  one  Objed,    nor 
at  all  perplexed  or  confufed  by  taking  into  view 
the  moft  diftant   and   even  innumerable.     Becaufe 
as  thou  confidereft  the  whole  with  all  its  parts  in 
onediftinftly,   fo  doft  thou  fee  all,   though  never 
fo  many,  never  fo  different,   never  fo  remote  3   and 
feeft  them  all  together,    with  one  and  the  lame  act 
of  thy  whole  divine  Knowledge.     This  is  of  fuch 
unbounded  Comprehenfion^   fo  incapable  of  being 
feparated  in  its  own  Operations,   or  diftracled  with 
variety  of  Obiefts  ,    that  one   and  many  are  the 
fame,    and  both  underftood  and  obfcrv'd  alike,  be- 
caufe filling  alike  under  the  lame  undivided  and  en- 
tire Wifdom ,   which  applies  the  whole  of  it  felf 
1:0  the  confideration  of  each  and  every  thing. 

And  thus  I  ought  to  believe  my  felf,  ^and  every 

^hing  belonging  to  me  as  much  under  thy  Eye,  as 

'  if  thy  Providence  had  no  other  care.    For  thou 

-^    -i       ,  N  4  ^^'^ 


ipo        meditations'. 


art  always  prefent,   always  ready ,   if  thou  do  but 

find  me  fo.     Wherefoever  I  go,   thou  goeft  along 

with  me,   except  I  firfl  forfake  and  fall  from  thee. 

Where-ever  I  am,  thou  abidell  with  me  >  for  thou 

art  every  where  >   that  I  may  find  thee  upon  every 

remove,   and  fo  fubfiil:  by  thee  5    for  otherwife  I 

mull  perifli,    not  being  able   to  fubfift  without 

thee.     I  rnuil  acknowledge  then,  that  every  thing 

I  do  is  done  in  thy  prefence  j    thou  underllandeit 

every  aftion,  and  the  nature  of  it,  much  better  than 

even  I  who  am  the  doer  of  it.     For  let  me  do 

what  I  will,   and  when  I  will,   flill  thou  art  pre- 

fent  at  all  times  equally  j   an  incefiant  obferver  of 

all  my  views  and  Intentions,   my  inclinations  and 

inward  complacencies,   my  words  and  a6tions.     So 

pfaj.3S.9.  good  reafon  have  I  to  cry  out  with  David^  Lord^ 

339.  ^'     thou  knoipefl  all  my  defire^  and  under fiandefi  my  thoughts 

afar  off. 

Thou  feeft  how  the  Spirit  moves  me,  whence  it 
comes,  where  it  reds,  and  whither  it  tends  j  be- 
caufe  thou  art  the  weigher  of  Spirits.  The  outward 
Aft,  like  a  well  leav'd  Tree,  may  be  fair  and  flou- 
rifhing,  and  impofe  upon  the  Eyes  of  Men  >  but 
the  All- feeing  Judge  goes  deeper ,  he  examines  the 
Sap  and  and  Root  throughly.  If  this  be  rotten  or 
bitter,  if  the  Intention  be  corrupt ,  he  deals  with 
the  Tree  according  to  its  Root,  and  recompenfes 
.  the  Man  after  the  bent  of  his  Heart.  The  Evil 
that  he  would  do  is  punifh'd,  and  the  Good  he  en- 
deavoured and  heartily  defir'd  to  do,  but  could  not, 
is  as  kindly  accepted  as  if  it  had  been  aftually  ac- 
compliihed.  Thou  feeft,  as  foqn  as  I  begin  to 
move,  what  I  would  be  at  j  what  I  defign  and  de- 
light in  J  thy  Ears  and  Eyes  are  ever  open  5  thou 
attendeft  diligently,  and  entereft-  punftually  into 
thy  Book,  whatever  I  do,  whether  it  be  good,  or 
whether  it  be  evil,  that  the  one  may  receive  a 
bountiful  reward,    the  other  its  deferv'd  punifh- 

ment. 


MEDITATIONS.  191 

ment.    And  this  fhall  furely  be  ijuhen  the  Books  JhallEyL.-].  lo. 
he  opened^  and  all  Mankind  jh all  be  judged  out  of  the  Rev.  zo. 
th'mgs  'which  are  %vritten  in  thofe  Books^  according  to^'^- 
their  works. 

Thus  may  \vc  underftand  what  is  faid  of  thee, 
that  thou  fearcheft  out  all  perfe^ion  y  becaufe  in  hu- 
man A6tions  thou  hall  a  greater  regard  to  what  we 
wifh  and  intend  to  do,  than  to  what  we  really  do. 
And  when  I  ferioufly  confider,  that  this  is  the  me- 
thod by  which  thou  proceedelt,  fhame  and  confu- 
fion,  fear  and  horrible  dread,  link  my  Spirits  >  to 
think  how  holy  and  upright,  how  pure  and  fincere, 
all  our  intentions  and  behaviour  ought  to  be,  fince 
we  do  every  thing  in  the  fight  of  our  Judge  >  a 
Judge  on  whom  no  difguife  can  impofe ,  but  who 
does  not  only  fee  our  A6tions,  but  perfectly  difcern 
our  molt  fecret  Thoughts. 


C  H  A  P.    X. . 

The  Impotence  of  htman  Nature  xo  refill  Temp- Ch.i  5, t54» 
tations,    without  the  affijiance  ofTDivine'^' 
Grace, 

OLord,  the  God  of  the  Spirits  of  all  flefh^  whofe  Mum.  16:. 
Eyes  are  upon  all  the  ways  of  the  Sons  of  ^i- 
Men ,  from  the  very  inftant  of  their  entrance  into 
this  World ,   to  that  of  their  departure  out  of  it, 
that  thou  mayll  render  to  every  Man  according  to 
his  doings  -,    briiig  me,    I  befeech  thee,   acquainted 
with  my  felf  5    that  I  may  be  truly  fenfible  of  my 
weaknefs  and  my  wants,    I  have  indeed  prefumed 
to  fay,  but  they  were  but  vain  boalls,   that  /  'z^^^  Re  v.  3. 17, 
rich^  and  flood  in  need  of  nothing  y  ivhile  alas  !  I  was 
poor  and  blind^  and  naked^   and  7niferahle^  and  weak. 
Thus  I  thought  my  felf  fomething,  when  in  truth 
I  \vas  nothing  j  and  p'<f\^ing  my  (elf  to  be  wife^  Ibe-  Rom.  i. 


ipi  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  O  N  S. 

'■ ■ ■ ■ 1^ r 

came  a  fool.  I  arrogated  the  little  good  I  had  to  my 
ownWifdom  and  Diligence,  but  thou  hail:  unde- 
Jam.i.iy.ceived  my  partial  Miilakes,  and  convinced  me 
now  effciSlually,  that  every  excellence  is  entirely 
Joh.T5. 5.  thy  Gift,  xh^t  "vijithout  thcc  we  can  do  nothing'y  and 
.Pial.  117.  as  the  Pfalmill  well  obferves.  Except  thou^  Lord, 
*•  art  pica  fed  to  keep  the  City^   the  Watch-man  waketb 

hut  in  vain.  Thou  haft  taught  me  experimentally, 
of  how  little  lignificance  humane  Strength  and 
Induftry  are,  by  leaving  me  for  a  while  deftitute 
of  thy  help,  and  bringing  my  fuppofed  AbiHties 
to  the  proof.  Not  for  thy  better  Information  , 
who  kno\veft  me  perfectly  before,  but  in  order  to 
the  creating  in  me  right  Notions  of  my  felf  3  and 
abating  that  unjuft  efteem  I  entertain'd  for  quali- 
fications not  yet  underftood.  For  it  is  true,  my 
God,  I  did  not  only  think  my  felf  fomething,  but 
that  my  being  fo,  was  owing  to  my  felf  j  and  that 
my  own  Strength  was  fecurity  fufficient  j  Nor  did 
I  difcover,  that  my  Safety  was  the  effeft  of  thy 
Guidance  and  Protedion,  till  thou  thoughteft  fit 
to  withdraw  thy  felf  for  a  fealon,  and  fufferedft 
me  to  fall  for  want  of  thy  fupport.  By  this  E- 
vent,  alas !  I  had  but  too  fenfible  and  too  fad  a 
demonftration ,  that  all  I  did  commendably  before 
\vas  the  effe6l  of  thy  gracious  governance  j  that 
my  mifeiy  and  my  fall  was  properly  my  own  j  but 
my  recovery  and  my  ftanding,  thine  and  only  thy 
doing. 

Thus  haft  thou  in  Mercy  open'd  my  Eyes ,  and 
awaken'd  me  out  of  my  deceitful  Dream  j  by  let- 
Job  4.  I.  ting  me  fee,  th-AlMan  is  appointed  to  a  ft  ate  of  war- 
fare  upon  Earthy  that  dangers  and  temptations  be- 
fet  him  every  where,  that  noFlelh  can  have  where- 
of to  glory  before  God,  in  hope  to  be  juftified  in 
the  fight  of  their  Almighty  Judge  j  fmce  whatever 
good  thing  wc  have  or  do ,  be  the  proportion  leis 
or  more,  ftill  the  whole  is  my  Gift  ;  and  nothing 
truly  our  own  but  our  Sins  and  our  Miferies.     And 

what 


MEDITATIONS.  193 


what  fhall  Man  then  find  to  gloiy  of?  Of  his  Sins 
and  Miieries  ?  That  were  moll  abfurd ,  a  caiife  of 
ihame  and  forrow ,  but  none  for  boalling  or  felf- 
fatisfadion.  What  then  ?  of  any  Good  ?  No,  not 
that  neither  j  for  this  is  equally  abfurd ,  to  glory 
of  that  which  is  not  our  own,  but  another's.  For 
thine,  O  Lord,  is  all  the  Good ,  and  confequently 
thine  all  the  Glory.  He  that  aflumcs  to  himfelf 
the  honour  of  the  good  that  is  thine ,  the  fame  is 
a  Thief  and  a  Robber  >  and  thus  far  refembles  the 
Devil  himfelf,  that  he  would  ufurp  upon  the  Ma- 
jefty  and  Property  of  his  Mafter.  He  that  is  am- 
bitious of  praife  for  thy  Gifts,  and  aims  not  at  pro- 
moting thy  honour ,  but  his  own ,  how  profufe 
foever  Men  may  be  in  their  Commendations  of 
him,  yet  thou  wilt  be  fure  to  reproach  and  con- 
demn him  for  his  Arrogance  and  Injuftice.  And 
what  lliall  the  praife  of  Men  then  profit  him  ?  For 
though  they  extol  never  fo  much,  yet  if  thou  dis- 
approve, they  {hall  not  be  able  to  defend  him 
when  thou  fitteil:  in  Judgment,  nor  to  deliver  him 
from  Vengeance,  when  thy  av/ful  Voice  fhall  pafs 
the  fatal  Sentence  upon  him. 

Therefore,  O  Lord,  who  hail  formed  and  fuf- 
tained  me  from  my  Mother's  Womb,  fuffer  mc 
not,  I  implore  thee,  to  fall  under  that  Condemna- 
tion, of  attempting  to  Ileal  away  any  part  of  thy 
Glory.  Thine  is  all  the  Good,  and  fit,  it  is,  that 
thine  fhould  be  all  the  Honour  of  it.  To  me  be- 
longs only  Confufion  of  Face,  and  Mifery  unfpeak- 
able  'y  for  mine  is  all  the  Evil ,  and  of  that  evil 
this  mull  be  the  Confequence,  unlefs  thy  Mer- 
cy interpofe  and  refcue  me.  But  thou ,  my  Lord, 
wilt  have  Mercy  5  thy  Mercy  extends  to  all  thy 
Works,  and  tliou  hatell  nothing  that  thou  hall 
made  3  thou  impartell  to  us  of  thy  own  goodnefs, 
Tind  enrichell  us  with  many  excellent  Girts  j  hav- 
ing declared  thy  felf,  a  lover  of  the  Poor,  and  a 
provider  for  their  Neccffitics  out  of  thy  hid  treafures.  Pfal.  1 1 3, 
*^.  ^  Behold^. 


194  MEDITATIONS. 


lAike  6. 

20. 

Flal.  22. 

26. 

Luke  I. 

52.,  53. 

14.  II. 

Behold  we  are  poor,  we  are  thy  needy  Children, 
thy  little  Flock  j  open  to  us  thy  Gates,  that  the 
poor  may  eat  and  be  fatisfied^  and  the  heart  of  them 
■that  feek  thee^  may  -praife  thee  and  Ihe  for  ei:er.  For 
I  am  taught,  that  none  but  they  who  fee,  and  ac- 
knowledge, and  lament  their  Poverty,  lliall  be  en- 
riched by  thee  j  while  the  rich  and  great  in  their 
Mat.  5.  3. own  conceits,  (who  are  in  reality  the  leaft  and 
mofl  wretchedly  indigent  of  all  others)  ihall  be 
fent  empty  away ,  and  left  to  perifli  in  their  fup- 
pofed  fufficiency. 

In  a  due  fenie  of  this  Difpenfation,  I  mofl  hum- 
bly confefs  my  fpiritual  Poverty  >  that  I  have  no- 
thing of  my  own  j  and ,  if  any  good  A6bion  have 
been  done  by  me,  the  Honour  of  it  is  intirely 
thine,  becaufe  the  good  it  felf  was  thy  Gift.  I 
do  look  upon  my  felf  to  be  no  better  than  Vanity, 
a  Mafs  of  Corruption,  a  dark  and  empty  Creature, 
a  barren  Soil,  not  able,  without  the  fruftify- 
ing  dew  of  thy  Bleifing,  to  bring  forth  any  Fruit, 
but  the  venomous  and  noifome  Weeds  of  Shame, 
and  Sin,  and  Death.  If  I  have  any  good  Difpo- 
&  fltion,   it  is  of  thy  infufing  •,    if  I  have  perfevered 

in  doing  well ,  it  is  becaufe  thy  Strength  enabled 
me  3  if  I  fell  off  from  a  good  courfe,  it  was  becaufe 
thy  Grace  did  not  prefei*ve  me  :  And  in  each  of 
thofe  Relapfes  I  had  lain  and  been  loft  for  ever, 
had  not  thy  mighty  Hand  raifed  me  out  of  that 
duft  of  Death.  Thy  Light  alone  delivered  me 
from  Blindnefs,  thy  Defence  from  Temptations, 
thy  Support  from  Relapfes  ,  and  thy  continual 
Governance  from  final  Mifery  and  Ruin  irreco- 
verable. 

Thus  hath  thy  Goodnefs,  O  my  God,  prevent- 
ed me  in  all  the  Events  and  Exigencies  of  my  Life  j 
refcuing  me  out  of  paft  evils,  fuftaining  and  defendr 
ing  me  againft  the  prefent,  and  arming  me  againft 
the  future.  Hewing  in  pieces  the  Nets  and  Snares 
laid  to  entrap  my  Soul,  and  taking  out  of  the  way 
-  the 


MEDITATIONS.  1915 

the  occafions  and  allurements  to  Sin,  which  hadft 
thou  not  done  for  me,  there  is  not  in  the  World  a 
Crime  (6  black,  but  I  might  have  been  guilty  of 
it.  For  this  I  know,  O  Lord,  that  there  is  no  Sin 
ever  committed  by  any  one  Man,  which  any  o- 
ther  Man  is  not  capable  of  committing  too,  if  that 
Almighty  Power  which  made  him  Man,  be  not  at 
hand  with  its  afliftance.  But  what  I  could  not  do 
for  my  felf,  thou  haft  vouchfafed  in  much  mercy  to 
do  for  me :  Thou  laidft  upon  me  thy  Commands, 
and  didfl  fignify,  what  I  ought  to  abftain  from  : 
Thou  gaveft  to  thefe  Commands  the  San6tion  of 
Promifes  and  Threatnings,  and  to  thy  Grace  a- 
lone  I  afcribe  my  believing  the  one  and  the  other. 
Thou  haft  governed  and  preferved  me  to  Thee  and 
to  my  felf  5  and,  by  thy  feafonable  and  happy  Re- 
straints, I  have  been  kept  from  Adultery,  Muithcr,_^ 
Blafphemy,  and  every  heinous  Violation  of  thy 
Laws,  which  othenvife  had  provoked  thy  difplca- 
fure,  and  certainly  incurred  my  own  Damnation. 

Sometimes  there  was  no  Tempter  to  perfuade 
me  to  do  amifs  j  and,  that  there  was  no  fuch  at 
hand,   was  the  effect  of  thy  merciful  Providence-  ^ 

At  ether  times  the  Tempter  was  ready,  and  had 
done  his  part,  but  for  want  of  fit  time  and  place^ 
the  Temptation  could  not  take  eife6t :  This  alfo 
was  from  the  fame  good  Providence.  At  others, 
he  laid  the  Bait,  Place  was  convenient,  Opportu- 
nity was  invitmg,  and  then,  by  thy  reftraining 
Grace,  I  was  withheld  from  complying  with  his 
black  and  deceitful  Allurements.  Sometimes  he 
made  his  approaches  in  the  dark,  black  and  loath- 
Ibme  as  he  is  -,  and  thy  affiftancc  enabled  me  to 
difcover  and  deteft  his  Deformities.  S^omctimes  fke 
ftrong  man  anned  attacked  me  with  open  force,  and  Luke  rr, 
hoped  to  carry  me  by  Terror  and  Storm  >  and  in^'-. 
thefe  Confli6ts  thou  haft  fo  powerfully  reftrained 
Him,  and  ftrengthned  Me,  that  I  have  not  only 
Hood  the  {hock,  but  come  off  Conqueror.  Some- 
times 


1^6 


MEDITATIONS. 

■ 

times  he  hath  accollied  me  in  a  bright  and  beautiful 
1  Cor.  1 1 .  Figure,  and  transformed  bimfelf  into  an  Angel  of  Light  y 
14-  and  thou  hadll  rebuked  him,  and  opened  my  Eyes 

in  time,  to  dete6t  his  borrowed  Difguiies.    For  this 
Rev.  II.  is  the  red  jDr^^^';^,  the  old  Serpent,  called  the  Devil 
^ '  ^  •        and  Satan,  having  [even  heads  and  ten  horns  j  the  great 
Leviathan^  whom  thou  hail:  made  to  take  his  paf- 
Ffal.  104.  time  upon  the  vail  Ocean  of  this  World,  ^wherein  are 
things  creeping  innumerable^  both  f mall  and  great  beajls  5 
that  is,  feveral  kinds  of  evil  Spirits,  working  mif- 
I  Pet.  5.8.  chief  day  and  night,  and  going  about  continually^  feek- 
ing  whom  they  may  devour.   And  devour  they  certain- 
ly will,  except  thou,  the  Great  Shepherd  of  Souls^ 
deliver  the  Prey  out  of  their  hungry  Jaw^s. 
Gen.  31.       This  is  He,  who  appeared  in  the  form  of  a  Ser- 
Rev.12.4.  pent  in  Paradife,  w^hofe  tail  drew  down  a  third  part 
of  the  Jlars  of  heaven^  andcafi  them  to  the  earth -y  who 
poifons  the  Waters,   that  Men  may  drink  of  the 
J0I340.13.  invenomed  Liquor  and  dye,  who  trufi^eth  that  he  can 
41  •  13-     draw  tip  Jordan  in  his  mouthy   and  is  made  without. 
fear.     And,  who  can  defend  himfelf  from  his  gree- 
dy Ravenings,  except  thou,  Lord,  dehver  him,  who 
Pfal.  74.   breakeil  the  Heads  of  the  great  Dragon?  Do  thou 
^3-  therefore  help  and  protect  us,    hide  us  under  the 

Shadow  of  thy  Wings,  and  ihield  us  from  the  force 
of  the  Monger's  Horns.  For  this  is  his  conftant 
employment,  this  his  only  defu'c  and  endeavour,  to 
detfroy  and  fwallow  up  the  Souls  w^iich  thou  hall 
made. 

To  Thee  therefore,  our  God,  we  flee,  to  Thee 
we  cry  for  defence  againll  our  daily  and  our  dead- 
ly Foe  j  who,  whether  w^e  llcep  or  w^ake,  whe- 
ther we  eat  or  drink,  or  whatever  elfe  we  are 
employed  about,  is  Night  and  Day  m.aking  War  a^ 
gainlf  us,  by  cunning  Stratagems  and  a  thoufand  un- 
conceivable Arts  of  Delufion.  Sometimes  in  open 
Field,  fometimes  from  private  Ambufcades  aiming 
his  poifon'd  Darts  at  us,  that  he  may  flay  our  Souls. 
And  ycr,   lb  wretchedly  ftupid,   fo  perverfely  mad 

are 


MEDITATIONS.  197 

arc  we,  that  though  we  know  and  fee  this  fierce 
Dragon  is  ever  making  at  us  with  open  Mouth, 
Hill  we  can  fold  our  hands  to  fleep,  indulge  our 
lelves  in  eafe  and  iloth,  and  wantonly  fport  upon 
the  Brink  of  Ruin,  as  if  no  danger  threatned  us. 
His  conllant  Endeavour  is  our  Deilru6tion,  and 
upon  this  he  is  fo  eagerly  intent,  as  never  to  flum- 
ber  or  fleep :  We  in  the  mean  while  fleep  fecure 
and  will  not  fo  much  as  be  awakened  into  one  fc- 
rious  thought  of  our  Chief,  our  Everlafting  Con- 
cern. And  what,  alas !  muft  needs  become  at  lafl, 
of  Creatures  whom  the  Enemy  ufes  fo  much  In- 
dufrry  to  deilroy,  and  They  fo  very  little  to  pre- 
ferve  themfeives. 

For  infinite,  God  knows,  are  our  hazards,  and 
all  our  v/ay  is  fpread  fo  thick  with  Traps  and  Toils, 
that  we  cannot  tread  one  Step  where  there  is  not 
fomc  Net  laid  for  our  Souls.     And  whofe  wifdom 
and  care  is  fuilicient  to  efcape  them  all  ?    Snares  in 
our  Plenty,  and  Snares  in  our  Poverty :    Snares  in 
our  Company,  and  Snares  in  our  moil  private  Re- 
tirements :  Snares  in  our  Pleafures,  and  the  ordinary 
Refrefliments  of  Life^  and  Snares  in  our  very  Faft- 
ings  and  moft  mortifying  Aufteritics.     Abroad  or  at 
home,  afleep  or  awake,  we  are  never  fafe,  but  eve-' 
ry  Word  and  Adion,  every  Thought  and  Defign 
is  hazardous  and  enfnaring.     Such  is  our  Condition, 
and  fo  manifold  our  Danger.      But  do  thou.  Lord, 
deliver  us  from  the  Toils  of  the  Hunter,   that  we 
may  give  Thanks  unto  thy  Name,  faying  with  the 
Holy  Pfalmift,    If  the  Lord  himfelf  bad  not  been  on?hl  113: 
our  fidcy  our  enemies  had  fwallowed  us  u^ quick :  But  i>  3>  ^'  7« 
p'aifed  be  the  Lord^   who  hath  not  ghen  us  over  ^s 
a  prey  unto  their  teeth.     Our  Soul  is  efcaped  even  as 
a  Bird  out  of  the  Snare  of  the  fowler^   the  fnare  is 
broken^  and  we  are  delivered. 

Do  thou,  O  gracious  God,   my  Life  and  Light,  ch.  17, 
in  order  to  compleating  this  deliverance,  enlighten 
my  Eyes,  that  I  may  fee  thy  Light,  and  walk  in  it. 

For 


198 


MEDITATIONS. 


For  who  can  cfcape  the  fnares  he  docs  not  fee? 
And  who  can  fee  them,  except  thou  open  his 
Eyes,  and  dire6l  his  unwary  Steps  ?  The  Prince  of 
Darknels  works  in  the  dark,  and  fprdads  his  Nets 
unfeen  5  and  the  Children  of  Darknefs  fall  into 
them,  becaufe  deflitute  of  thy  Light,  in  which 
John  II.  whofoever  walketh,  walketh  fafely.  For  if  any  man 
9»  i°-  *walketh  in  the  day  he  ftumhlcth  not^  hecaufe  he  feeth 
the  light  of  this  world.  But  if  a  man  walk  in  the 
night  he  fiumhleth^  hecaufe  there  is  no  light  in  him. 
Now  thou,  my  God,  art  the  Light  which  alone 
can  guide  us ;  thou  art  the  Light  of  the  Children 
of  Light,  the  Day  that  never  declines,  and  they 
who  walk  in  thee,  tread  fure  and  fafe,  but  they 
who  want  Thee,  are  flill  in  the  thickefl  Night, 
and  know  not  whither  they  go. 

This  is  moft  manifefl  from  daily  Experience, 
that  the  farther  any  Man  wanders  from  Thee,  the 
more  he  is  bewildrcd  in  the  Night  of  Ignorance 
and  Error,  of  Sin  and  Confufion  v  and  the  mol*e 
grofs  the  Darknefs  about  him  is,  the  lefs  he  is  ca- 
pable of  difcerning  his  Danger  >  the  oftener  he  is 
entangled  the  deeper  he  falls,  and  is  not  fenfiblc 
that  he  does  fo.  And  how  iliould  he  be  foUicitous 
to  rife  again,  who  does  not  perceive  the  neceffity 
of  fuch  an  attempt,  but  fondly  thinks  he  Hands, 
even  when  he  falls  moft  dcfperatcly?  How  ihall 
that  Patient  ever  find  a  Cure,  who  hath  no  appre- 
Iicnfion  of  his  Difeafe?  So  great  occafion  have  I 
to  be  importunate  with  Thee,  my  God,  and  Light, 
that  thoii  fliouldft  enlighten  my  Eyes,  and  fliew  me 
the  true  Hate  of  my  cafe,  that  I  may  fee  my  way, 
and  rightly  apprehend  my  Danger,  and  not  be 
Overthrown  before  mv  cruel  Adverfaries.  For 
our  common  Enemy  intends  no  lefs  than  our  ut- 
Ifdiah  r4.ter  Dellruction :  He  is  a  robber  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  fuch  he  will  continue  to  the  end  of  the 
World.  He  firit  formed  a  defign  of  invading  thy 
Glory,  and,   for  a  piyiiflunent  of  that  unjult  and 

facrile- 


MEDITATIONS.  199 

fecrilegioLis  Pride,  was  call  out  of  thy  holy  Moun- 
tain. And  now  iince  that  fall  from  Heaven,  he 
Hill  carries  on  his  wicked  Defigns  with  indefati- 
gable Induftry  and  Malice,  labouring  with  all  his 
might  to  undermine  thy  Children  >  and  in  impla- 
cable defpight  to  Thee^  to  deftroy  the  Creature 
honoured  above  the  reft,  by  being  made  after  thy 
own  Image,  and  defigned  to  inherit  that  Glory 
with  thy  felf,  from  which  he  by  his  proud  Pre- 
fumption  fell.  But,  O  thou  Shepherd  of  Ifrael^ 
break  in  pieces  the  Head  of  this  ravening  Wolf, 
let  him  not  tear  and  devour  thy  tender  Lambs,  but 
lead  thy  Flock  fafely,  and  condud  them  at  laft  td 
thy  felf.  T'hou  knoweft  his  goings  out^  and  his  coming  ifaiah  37, 
in^  and  his  rage  again  ft  us :  Thou  feeft  through  all  18. 
his  cunning  Difguifes,  and  canft  with  eafe  dete<5l  his 
fubtileft  Devices.  Nor  do  I  mention  thefe  to  in- 
form thee  of  them,  for  thou  knoweft  all  things, 
and  the  fecreteft  imaginations  are  not  hid  from  thee : 
But  I  lament  my  danger,  and  my  own  difabihty, 
that  thou,  my  Judge,  mayeft  fee  how  ienfible  I  am 
of  both,  that  thy  Compaftion  may  come  in  to  my 
aiiiftance,  and  difappoint  our  Enemy  and  thine  ^ 
and  fave  thofe  Souls  whofe  ftrength  thou  art  a- 
lone. 

Our  Enemy  is  wondrous  crafty,  and  his  Con- 
trivances are  fo  difguifed,  that,  except  thou  open 
our  Eyes,  we  cannot  eafily  difcover  what  it  is  he 
aims  at,  nor  diftinguifh  this  deadly  Foe,  from  a  very 
affe6lionate  Friend.  For  he  conveys  himfelf  into 
every  place,  and  is  dexterous  beyond  what  is  pofti* 
ble  to  conceive,  at  putting  on  all  manner  of  fhapes* 
Sometimes  he  appears  like  himfelf,  a  raging  Wolf, 
or  a  black  Fiend  ^  at  other  times  he  feems  a  meek 
and  gentle  Lamb,  and  is  transformed  into  an  An- 
gel of  Light.  He  v/atches  all  our  motions,  obfei^ves 
what  poilure  our  affairs  are  in,  and  accommodates 
his  Temptations  to  the  Humour,  the  Occafions,^ 
the  Events  and  Fortunes  of  each  Perfon  j  he  con- 

O  fiders 


zoo  MEDITATIONS. 

ders  the  Times,  the  Places,  the  critical  Jiindtures, 
in  which  thefe  are  moft  likely  to  prevail,  and  is 
fiire  to  fall  in  with  thofe,  that  are  moft  £ivourable 
to  his  mifchievous  Purpofes.  He  counterfeits  me- 
kncholyy  that  he  may  delude  the  forrowful  and 
dejefted  j  and  Jollity,  that  he  may  betray  the 
fprightly  and  gay  5  he  wears  Sheeps  cloathmg, 
that  he  may  deceive  the  fccurej  and  all  the  fa- 
vage  fiercenefs  of  the  Wolf,  that  he  may  terrify  the 
fearful.  Thus  does  he  manage  matters  with  fuch  a 
fatal  Addrefs,  that  fome  are  feared  with  terrors  by 
nighty  and  others  wounded  with  the  arrows  that  fly 
by  day^  others  tainted  with  the  fecret  peflilence  of 
lufls  that  "walk  in  darknefs^  and  others  deftroyed  by 
the  open  Profanenefs  and  impudent  Vices  that  wafte 
at  fioon  day.  And  who  is  fufficient  for  thefe  things  ? 
What  Prudence,  what  Caution  can  be  a  match  for 
Job  41.  fuch  intricate  Impollures?  Who  can  difcover  the 
r3«  face  of  his  garrdent^  or  bridle  up  the  'teeth  of  this 
tyrai:mical  Leviathan? 

Behold  he  hides  his  Arrows  (ecretly  in  his  Qui- 
ver, and  hits  us  fuddenly,  when  we  are  leaft  in 
fear.  While  he  covers  his  Hook  w^ith  fpecious  baits, 
and  fets  his  Traps  out  of  fight,  he  drav/s  us  into 
Mifery  and  Death,  by  falfe  appearances  of  happi- 
nefs,  and  under  the  pretence  of  kindnefs  and 
friendfhip  :  And  thefe  things  pais  upon  us  veiy 
eafily,  unlefs  thou,  Lord,  help  us  to  pull  off  the 
Mafk,  and  dete6b  his  flight  of  Hand  with  which 
the  crafty  Juggler  deludes  our  credulous  Sight. 
Were  we  in  danger  only  from  acknowledged  Vice, 
and  the  Works  of  the  Flefli,  the  matter  were  not 
fo  hard  to  guard  our  felves  again  ft  him.  But  alas ! 
he  turns  our  own  Artillery  upon  us,  and  hath  a 
thoufand  ways  of  compa'ffing  his  Ends  and  our 
DeftrucVion  5  by  our  very  Virtues  and  Graces,  by 
our  Devotions  and  moft  fpiritual  Exercifes.  And 
this  is  properly  to  transform  himfelf  into  an  Angel 
of  Light,  when  he  makes  us  ten  times  more  the 
I  Childrei? 


MED  IT  ATI  ONS.  201 

Children  of  Hell,    by  pcn^erting  thofe  very  Me- 
thods which  feeni  to  have  the  moil  dire6t  tenden- 
cy to  Heaven.      Thefe  ,    and   innumerable  other 
Stratagems,    to  me  unknown,   this  Son  of  Belial 
finds  out,   and  in  fome  or  other  of  them  h  perpe- 
tually exerciiing  himfelf  to  our  eternal  Mifchief } 
But  do  thou,  OLord,  hew  the  friar es  of  the  ungodly  ^^zl.i^il 
in  pieces^  and  let  him  not  triumph  over  us,  Let  him  ro. 
fall  into  his  own  nets  ^   and  let  me  ever  efcape  them  j  H2..  i^* 
that  he  may  gnafo  with  his  teeth ^  and  confume  away. 
with  Envy  and  Rage,    at  the  perifiing  of  his  own 
defires^   and  thou  mayeft  be  glorified  in  our  Prefer- 
vation,    O  thou  who  art  the  Saviour  of  all  that  put?'i\,i-],'j. 
their  truft  in  thee^  from  fiich  as  reftfi  thy  right  hand. 


C  H  A  P.    XL 

The  manifold  Goodnefs  ofGody  and  what  im-  chap.  t8, 
provement  we  Jhoiild  make  of  it.  19,10,2.1. 

TH I S  I  requeft  with  greater  confidence  upon 
every  remembrance  of  thy  Favour  already 
vouchfafed  me.  And  therefore  behold  thy  Ser- 
vant and  Son  of  thy  Handmaid ,  acknowledging 
with  all  Humility,  and  thankfully  recounting  the 
many  Mercies,  witl>  which  thou  haft  prevented, 
preferved ,  and  particularly  blefs'd  me  from  my 
Youth  up  to  this  very  Day.  Herein  I  exercife  my 
felf  the  rather  in  a  due  fenfe  and  deteftation  of 
Ingratitude  how  odious  a  Sin  it  is  in  it  felf,  and 
how  very  difpleafing  to  thee.  For  this  is  the  ruin 
of  all  that  is  good :  The  Dam  that  ftops  the  cur- 
rent of  thy  Mercy,  elfe  ever  overflowing  upon 
Mankind:  The  Seeds  of  Vice  though  killed ,  by 
this,  revive  and  fprout  up  afrefh  in  our  Hearts,  and 
the  moft  thriving  Virtues,  where  this  bailful  Qua- 
lity enters,   are  immediately  poyfoned  and  ftinted, 

O  z  grow 


202  MEDITATIONS. 

grows  fickly,  fade  away  and  dye.  Therefore  I 
will  give  thanks  to  my  God,  that  I  fall  not  into 
this  miferable  State,  nor  lie  under  the  dangerous 
influence  and  indelible  reproach  of  a  Sin,  fo  ma- 
lignant in  its  quality  and  effefts,  as  that  of  Ingra- 
titude. 

O  Lord  my  Deliverer !  how  often  hath  the  roar^ 
ing  Lion  opened  his  Mouth  upon  me,  and  thou  haft 
drawn  me  from  between  his  Teeth,  by  quafhing 
the  Temptation  ?  How  often  have  I  wickedly 
complied,  and  done  the  Fa6t,  and  he  Hood  ready 
to  carry  off  his  Prey,  but  thou  haft  defended  me 
from  the  Hell  I  have  deferved.  Thus  my  Offences 
againft  thee  were  repaired,  by  the  Manifeftations 
of  thy  Power  and  Goodncfs  in  the  defence  of  me. 
I  was  not  afraid,  nor  ftood  in  awe  of  Thee,  and 
.  tliou  didft  keep  a  ftrift  and  impregnable  Guard  for 
my  Prefervation.  I  departed  from  Thee,  and  fur- 
rendered  my  felf  to  the  Enemy  :  Thou  wouldeft 
not  liiffer  Him  to  take  the  advantage,  nor  Me  to 
be  ruined  5  even  by  my  own  aft  and  deed.  Thefe 
Benefits  my  Gracious  God  conferr'd,  and  yet  fo 
blind  was  I,  as  not  to  fee  them.  For  after  this  man- 
ner haft  thou  fnatched  my  Soul  from  him,  that 
would  have  torn  it  in  pieces,  and  refcued  me  from 
eternal  Deftruftion,  when  I  was  not  in  the  leaft 
fenfible  how  near  I  was  to  it.  I  have  ventured  to 
the  very  brink  of  the  Precipice,  and  thou  haft 
plucked  me  back  when  droppmg  into, it.  I  was  at 
the  very  Gates  of  Death,  and  thou  haft  reftrain'd 
the  Grave  from  fhutting  her  Mouth  upon  me. 

Nor  hath  the  care  of  this  kind  Providence  been 
confined  only  to  my  Soul,  my  Bodv  alfo  hath  felt 
its  good  effefts.  For  often  haft  thou,  my  God 
and  Saviour,  reftored  me  from  the  Bed  ot  Lan- 
guiftiing,  healed  thofe  Difeafes  which  had  baffled 
all  humane  fkill,  prefcrved  and  proteftcd  me  by 
Sea  and  Land,  in  perils  of  Fire  and  Sword,  ftiicld- 
ing  me  from  many  a  fore  Thruft,  and  putting  by 

Deaths 


MEDITATIONS.  zoj 


Deaths  innumerable  ,  which  were  levell'd  at  my 
Head  :  Standing  over,  and  covering  me  with  the 
fhadow  of  thy  Wings,  from  all  manner  of  hurt  and 
danger.  And  this  thou  didft,  as  I  have  reafon  to 
believe,  in  great  compaflion  to  my  poor  Soul,  con- 
fidering  how  unprovided  I  was  for  fo  important  a 
Change  >  and  that,  had  I  been  then  hurry'd  out 
of  the  World ,  Hell  and  eternal  Mifery  muft  have 
been  my  Portion.  So  that  thy  Grace  and  Mercy, 
thus  preventing  me,  have  refcu'd  me  from  a  two- 
fold Death,  and  fecured  Body  and  Soul  at  once  by 
the  fame  fufpenfion  of  the  fatal  Stroke  5  and  by 
thus  lengthening  out  my  Life,  laid  a  foundation  for 
my  living  to  all  Eternity.  Thefe  and  many  other 
Benefits  I  have  received  at  thy  bounteous  Hand, 
and  I ,  ftupid  Wretch,  regarded  not,  nay,  was  fo 
blind  as  not  to  fee  them,  till  the  Light  from  above 
opened  my  Eyes.  But  now,  thou  God  of  my  Life, 
by  whom  I  live  5  thou  Light  of  my  Eyes  by  which 
I  fee  J  I  have  receiv'd  the  influence  of  thy  bright 
Beams,  and  am  brought  to  a  due  fight  and  fenfe  of 
thee  and  thy  Goodnefs  >  and  moft  heartily  j^eturn 
my  Thanks  the  bell  I  can ,  though  moft  difpro- 
portionate  to  the  Mercies  for  which  they  are  due. 
For  thou  only  art  my  God  and  moft  merciful  Crea- 
tor, a  lover  of  Souls,  and  hating  nothing  that  thou 
haft  made :  And  I  alas !  with  ftiame  confefs  my  felf 
the  Chief  of  Sinners  ,  in  whom  thou  haft  fhewn  all 
long-fuffering  for  a  Pattern  to  them ,  whole  finful 
and  miferable  State  fhall  hereafter  render  thern  Ob- 
jedts  of  thy  Clemency  and  Compaffion. 

I  acknowledge  thy  Mercies  to  be  unfpeakably 
great,  for  delivering  my  Soul  from  the  nethermofi  hell  \ 
not  once ,  or  twice,  or  thrice,  but  hundreds,  and 
thoufands,-  and  millions  of  times.  I  was  perpetual- 
ly driven  thither,  and  thou  as  conftantly  check- 
ing my  furious  Career,  and  turning  me  back  again. 
And,  had  not  thy  own  goodnefs  loved  me  better 
than  I  loved  my  felf,  thou  had  ft  e'er  this,  funk  mc 

O  3  Uito 


204  MEDITATIONS. 


into  the  bottomlels  Pit  ten  thoufand  times  over. 
But  fuch  is  thy  tendernefs,  that  thou  wilt  not  fuf- 
fcr  us  to  undo  our  felves,  and  makefl  as  though 
thou  fawefl  not  our  Offences,  that  thy  forbearance 
may  win  us  to  Repentance.  So  full  of  Mercy  are 
all  thy  ways,  O  God :  Which  I  now  plainly  per- 
ceive, and  have  a  deep  and  grateful  Senfe  of,  and 
am  even  loll  in  Wonder  and  Amazement  at  the 
Kindnefs  which  hath  all  along  watched  over  me 
for  good,  and  faved  both  Body  and  Soul  from  the 
Death  which  had  otherwife  long  (ince  fwallowed 
them  up.  For  I  was  entirely  Jn  the  hands  of  Death, 
and  thou  reiloredft  me  entire  to  Life.  Thine  there- 
fore be  the  whole  of  this  which  lives  by  thy  Cle- 
mency, and  every  part  of  me  confpires  in  offer- 
ing every  part  of  me,  a  Sacrifice  of  Praife.  This 
whole  Spirit,  and  Soul,  and  Body,  and  all  that  Life 
refulting  from  the  mutual  Union  of  thefe,  fhall 
from  henceforth  be  confecrated  to  the  God  of  my 
Life  'y  for  thou  refloredll  me  All,  that  thou  mightft 
keep  me  All  for  thy  own  :  And  therefore  I  will 
love  my  Strength  and  my  Deliverer,  and  live  no 
longer  to  my  iclf ,  but  thee.  The  whole  of  my 
Lite  was  lofl  and  gone  in  Mifery,  the  whole  was 
reflored  and  given  me  afrefh  by  thy  Mercy  :  For 
Pfal.  86.  thou  art  a  God  full  of  com^ajjion^  long-fuffering^ 
15-  plenteous  in  goodnefs  and  trufl^  ^nd  JJjcwing  mercy  un* 

Exod.  10.  ^^  thoufands  in  them  that  love  thy  name. 
Deut  6. 4.      Now  at  length,  O  Lord  my  God,  I  plainly  per- 
ceive the  Equity  of  that  Command,  w^hich  enjoins 
Mat.  21.   me  to  love  thee  "with  all  my  hearty   and  ivith  all  my 
3^'  mind^  andimthall7ny  foul^  and  with  all  my  ftrength^ 

at  all  times ,  with  a  moil  ardent  and  never-cealing 
Affection  :  Bccaufe  I  fhould  perifh  each  Moment, 
didfl  not  thou  renew  the  Gift  of  Life  by  thy  Pre- 
fen'ation  and  Continuance  of  it,  and  every  Mo- 
ment thou  bindeil  me  fifler  to  thee,  by  the  Addi- 
tion of  new,  and  Repetition  of  former  Benefits.  As 
therefore  no  Hour,  no  Minute  pafles  by,  W'ithout 

fome 


MEDITATIONS.  toj 


fome  inllance  of  thy  Bounty :  So  it  is  fit  that  none 
fhoiild  pafs  5  without  my  grateful  and  aifeftionate 
remembrances  of  fo  kind  a  Benefa6lor^  without 
fuch  zealous  and  conflant  Love  of  fo  good  a  God, 
as  my  frail  Nature,  and  narrow  Soul  can  extend 
to.  This  is  indeed  what  ought  to  be,  but  yet  it 
is  what  will  not,  cannot  be,  unlefs  the  fame  hand 
give  the  Grace  of  Gratitude,  which  gives  the  Ob- 
ligations to  the  Duty:  For  every  good  gift^  and  eve^hrn.i.i"], 
ry  perfect  gift  cometh  down  from  above^  and  is  from 
the  Father  of  Lights^  with  whom  is  no  va^iabJenefs^ 
neither  f J  adow  of  turning.  And  it  is  not  of  him  that  Rom.  o. 
willeth  ^  nor  of  him  that  runneth  ^  hut  of  thee  who  i6, 
JJje-weft  mercy ,  that  I  muft  be  enabled  to  love  thee. 
Thine,  Lord,  is  this  Gift,  as  thine  is  every  thing 
that  is  good.  Thou  commandeft  that  I  fhould  love 
thee,  grant  me  the  Power  to  do  whatfoever  thou 
commandeft,  and  then  command  whatfoever  thou 
pleafeft. 

But  ftill  the  more  I  refleft  on  thee ,  and  on  my 
felf,  the  greater  occafion  I  find  to  aflc  again  and 
again,  how  is  it  pollible  for  me  to  love  thee  to  the 
degree  that  I  ought,  or  where  I  fhall  meet  with 
Words  to  exprefs  the  Engagements  I  have  to  dofo  ? 
If  I  look  back  to  the  firft  Produftion  of  my  Na- 
ture, the  feveral  Privileges,  by  which  thou  haft 
diftinguiihcd  Mankind  from  all  his  fellow  Crea- 
tures here  below,  are  not  only  highly  valuable, 
but  even  aftoniftiing  Marks  of  thy  Favour.  The 
Honour  of  being  formed  after  thy  own  Image,, 
thofe  Charafters  of  the  Divine  Excellencies  im- 
preiTed  upon  the  noble  Faculties  of  my  Soul ,  fet- 
ting  me  far  above  the  vegetable  and  merely  fenfible 
World,  and  approaching  to  the  Dignity  of  thofe 
intelleftual  Spirits  above  >  the  Angels  thatMinifter 
about  thy  Throne ,  and  are  allowed  to  partake  in 
the  Glories  of  thy  beauteous  Prefence ,  the  ample 
Provifions  made  for  our  Convenience  and  De- 
light, and  that  Dominion  Man  was  iuvefted  with 

•  O  4  oyer- 


%o6  MEDITATIONS. 


over  the  Works  of  thy  Hands   in  thefe  Region? 
about  him. 

And  what  can  I  fuppofe  thy  Wifdom  dcfigned 
Chap.  20.  by  putting  all  things  in  fuhjeElion  under  the  feet  of 
pfal.  8.  6  Man,   but  to  teach  him,    that  his  Subje6lion  was 
referv^cd  to  thee  alone  ^  that  he  ihould  devote  him- 
felf  entirely  to  thy  Service,   whom  To  many  other 
things  were  ordained  to  ferve  ?    For  in  this  order 
the  Creation  feems  plainly  to  proceed.     The  things 
without  us  were  framed  for  the  ufe  of  our  Body , 
the  Body  for  the  Soul,   the  Soul  for  thee  \    that, 
being   freed  from  the  Diftra6bion   of  ferving   any 
thing  befides,   thou  mightell  remain  the  only  pro- 
per Obje6t  of  its  care,    while  it  poiTefTes  thee  for 
its  Joy  and  Happinefs,  and  ultimate  end,  and  Crea- 
tures of  a  lower  Rank  for  its  Comfort  and  Con- 
venience,   as  means  tending  to  the  attainment  of 
that  end.     For  all  contained  within  the  compafs 
of  thofe  bright  Orbs  above  us ,    are  in  their  own 
Nature,    and  in  thy  purpofe ,   inferior  to  the  hur 
mane  Soul,   and  made  fubfervient  to   that.     But 
this  was  made  fo  far  like  them,   as  to  be  fubfer- 
vient to  fome  Good  above  it  too,    that  it  might 
ferve  and  grafp  at   that,    and  pofTefs  that  which 
it  would  be  exquifitely  happy  in  the  Enjoyment  of. 
And  if  it  get  above  the  mean  Affections  of  fuch 
mutable  things  as  are  unworthy  of  its  chief  con- 
cern 5    and  fix  its  Thoughts  and  Defires  on  thee 
alone ,   it  fliall  advance  to  a  nearer  refemblance  oF 
that  fupreme  Perfedtion ,   whofe  likenefs  it  wears, 
and  be  admitted  to  a  clear  Vifion  of  the  Divine 
Majefty  in  immortal  Blifs.     Then  fhall  it  be  pof- 
feft  fecurely  of  all  thofe  precious  and  inellimable 
Treafures  in  the  Houfe  of  its  Lord,  with  which  if 
all  we  fee  and  ufe  to  be  fond  of  here ,   are  put  into 
Ffsl^di.p.the  Balance,  they  will  be  found  altogether  deceitful 
upon  the  'weights^  and  lighter  than  even  Vanity  it  felf. 
Thefe  are  the  Glories  which  thou  wilt  one  Day 
confer  upon  humane  Souls  3  and  in  the  mean  while, 
•       "^  by 


MEDITATIONS.  207 

—  ^ — ^ 

by  the  profpecl  of  them,  thou  doft  fupport  and  fill 
thy  Saints  with  Joy  and  Comfort  inexprelTible. 

Such  large  dcfigns  of  happinefs  aiid  glory  might 
rather  be  thought  jufl  Matter  of  Wonder  than  of 
Belief  and  Expedation,  were  it  not  that  in  doing 
ifo  much  Honour  to  Man,  thou  dofh  it  to  thy  felf^ 
and  exaltell  thy  own  Likenef?  and  Copy,   by  re- 
ceiving it  into  this  Union  with  its  Divine  Origi- 
nal.    Nor  can  I  fuffer  my  felf  to  doubt,    that  any 
meafurc  of  kindnefs  will  be  thought  too  great  for 
the  Soul,    when  I  refle6t  how  much  thou  haft  al- 
ready {hewn ,   to  this  corruptible  and  viler  part  of 
us,  the  Body.     For  even  to  every  fenfe  and  organ 
of  this  thy  liberality  is  admirable.     The  Sun  and 
Moon  are  daily  in  attendance ,   and   ( in  obedience 
to  thy  wife  appointment)   ferve  thy  Children  by 
fixt  and  regular  fucceflions  of  Heat  and  Cold,  of 
Light  and  Darknefs.     The  brightnefs  of  the  Hea- 
vens thou  haft  given  for  an  Entertainment  to  our 
Sight  J    the  pure   and    fubtle  Air   for  liberty  of 
Breathing  ^    the  difference  of  harmonious  Sounds 
to  charm  our  Ears  3   the  fragrant  Perfumes  to  feaft 
our  fmell  j    variety  of  rcliflies  for  our  tafte  3    and 
the   tadile   Qualities   of  Bodies   to   exercife    our 
touch.     Cattle  of  feveral  forts  to  affift  us  in  our 
Toils,    and  lighten  the  labour  of  fupporting  Lifej 
Fowls  of  the  Air,  Fifties  of  the  Sea,  and  Fruits  of 
the  Earth  for   our  Suftenance  and  Refrefhment : 
Plants  and  Minerals,   whofe  healing  Virtues  may 
relieve   the  Pains  and  Diftempers  we  are  fubje6t    .   / 
to  3   and  though  thy  Wifdom  hath  thought  fit  to   / 
leave  us  liable  to  many  and  grievous   bodily  Suf? 
ferings,  yet  thou  haft  furniftied  us  with  proper  Re- 
medies to  aftwage  or  remove  each  of  them.     Such 
is  the  pity  and  love  of  him  who  made  us,  and  who 
knows  our  frame :  The  Almighty  Potter,  in  whofe 
Hand  we  are  the  Clay,  thus  taking  care  to  prefervc 
the  brittle  Veflels  he  hath  made. 

But. 


zo8  MEDITATIONS. 

Cli.  21.  B'-it  while  I  am  thus  endeavouring  to  beget  in 
my  Soul  v/orthy  apprehenfions,  of  thy  bounteous 
Mercy,  pour,  I  befcech  thee,  from  "above  the  light 
of  thy  Grace,  which  may  enlarge  the  profpe6t, 
and  from  thefe  little  things  below,  get  above  the 
Objects  and  the  Comforts  of  Senfcj  help  me  to 
make  a  right  judgment  of  the  Great ,  the  invifible 
above,  which  our  gl'eat  Creator  hath  prepared  for 
our  immortal  Spirits.  For  if  my  God  be  fo  folici- 
tous  for  a  thing  fo  mean,  and  of  fo  ihort  and 
pcrifhing  a  nature  as  this  mortal  Body  j  if  the 
Heavens  and  the  Air,  Seas  and  Land,  Light  and 
Darknefs,  fcorching  Heats  and  refrelhing  Shades  : 
If  Showers  and  Dew,  Winds  and  Storms,  Fowls 
and  Fifhes,  Beads  and  Vegetables  5  if  Herbs  and 
Trees,  the  artful  and  the  voluntary  Productions 
of  the  Earth ,  do  all  confpire  to  ferve  us,  and  fo 
alliduoully  perform  their  part  to  entertain  us  with 
a  variety,  that  may  render  Life  not  only  fupport- 
able,  but  even  dehghtful :  What  are  the  Comforts, 
what  the  Entertainments  ?  How  great,  how  rich, 
how  innumerable,  how  unconceivable,  w^hich  thou 
hall  prepared  for  them  that  love  thee,  in  that 
heavenly  Country  where  they  fhall  behold  thee 
Face  to  Face?  If  fuch  Provifion  be  made  for  us 
in  our  Prifon,  what  may  we  expeft  to  find  in  our 
Palace  ? 

Great  and  Marvellous  are  thy  Works ,  O  King 
of  Heaven.  For  fince  all  thofe  things  are  exceed- 
ing pleafant  and  good ,  which  thou  haft  impaited 
to  good  and  evil  Men  in  common,  how  much 
better  muft  we  fuppofe  thofc  to  be,  which  thou 
haft  referved  as  the  Portion  peculiar  to  the  Good 
only  ?  If  thy  Gifts  are  fo  many,  and  fo  various, 
which  at  prefent  thy  Enemies,  as  well  as  thy 
Friends,  have  a  fhare  in,  how  noble  and  how  un- 
meafurable,  how  delicioufly  fwcet  and  charming 
muft  thofe  needs  be,  which  none  but  thy  Friends 
are  thought  worthy  to  partake  of  ?    If  in  our  Day 


MEDITATIONS.  209 

of  Mourning  there  are  fo  many  comforts  afforded 
us,  what  fhall  be  our  Joys  in  the  Day  of  our  Nup- 
tials ?  If  our  Dungeon,  and  our  Exile  have  fo  ma- 
ny Refrefhments ,    what  Ihall  be  the  felicities  of 
our  own  Home,  the  Native  Soil  of  our  Souls,  the 
magnificent  Court  of  the  King  of  Heaven?    Sure- 
ly,  my  God,   no  Eye  hath  feen,   or  can  fee  the 
things  thou  haft  prepar'd  for  thy  faithful  and  be- 
loved,   unlefs  thou  who  waft  prepared,    do  alfo 
vouchfafe  to  reveal  them.      For  as  is  thy  Majefiy^  Ecdef.  2. 
fo  is  thy  Mercy  ^   and  infinite  is  the  Goodnefs  which  ^^• 
thou  haft  laid  up  for  them  that  fear  thee^  infinite  as  ^^^^'  ^^' 
thy  own  eflential  happinefs,   and  the  inexhauftible  ^'^' 
multitude  of  thy  Mercies. 

For  thou,  O  Lord,  art  great,  incomprehenfibly 
great,  thy  Powder  knows  no  bounds,  thy  Wifdom 
no  number,  thy  Kindnefs  no  meafure  5  neither  do 
thy  Rewards  and  gracious  Gifts,  which  are  in  eve- 
ry refpect  worthy  of,  and  of  an  extent  qjiial  to  thy 
felf  They  muft  be  fo  becaufe.  tl>Qu  th^'felf  art 
the  reward  of  thy  Saints,  the  hope  of  them  that 
combate  in  this  fpiritual  Warfare,  the  Crown  of 
them  that  ftrive  lawfully^  and  the  Joy  and  Triumph  1  Tim.  2, 
of  them  that  conquer. 


CHAP.    XII. 

The  confideration  of  thy  "Divine  Goodnefs^  ^//r  Ch.  22, 

26,27. 


hofe  and  coinfort  in  Sufferings.  ^^  »2.4,2 5^ 


THefe,  O  my  God,  are  the  many,  the  mighty 
Benefits,  with  which  thou  one  day  haft  de^ 
creed  to  fatisfy  the  wants  and  cravings  of  thy  needy 
Children.  For  thou  art  the  hope  of  them,  whom 
all  other  hopes  have  forfaken  Thou  art  the 
Crown  of  Glory  which  ihall  adorn  every  Head 
that  overcomcch.     Thou  the  Eternal  fulneis  of 

thofa 


2IO  MEDITATIONS. 


thofe  blefled  Souls  who  hunger  and  thirlt  aftpr  thy 
Rightcoufnefs  and  Kingdom.  Thou  the  never- 
faihng  Comfort ,  communicating  thy  felf  to  none 
but  luch  as  are  content  to  forego,  nay,  have  learnt 
to  defpife  all  worldly  Comforts  in  order  to  obtain 
thy  everlafting  and  fpiritual  one  in  exchange.  For 
they  who  fet  up  their  rell,  and  feek  their  fatisfact? 
tions  here,  are  reputed  unworthy  of  thofe,  thou 
haft  referved  for  thine  Ele6t  hereafter.  But  they 
who  are  tormented  here  are  comforted  hereafter  j 
and  fuch  as  bear  a  part  in  the  fuffeiings ,  fhall  not 
fail  to  obtain  a  fhare  in  the  confolations,  of  their 
Lord  and  Saviour.  For  matters  are  fo  order'd  by 
thy  Wifdom,  that  no  Man  can  have  his  joys  and 
confolations  here  and  hereafter  both  3  God  and 
Mammon  cannot  both  be  ferved  >  to  divide  our 
felves  between  them,  is  to  lofe  all  pretence  of  re^ 
Mat.6.24  ward  from  either  j  and  Heaven  and  the  World, 
Spiritual  and  Temporal ,  are  Objects  fo  diftant, 
things  fo  incompatible,  that  he  who  refolves  in 
good  earneft  to  enjoy  the  one,  is  unavoidably  o- 
bliged  to  give  up  all  his  pretenfions  to  the  other. 

Upon  thefe  Confiderations  my  Soul  refufes  to  be 
comforted,  and  to  find  her  happinefs  in  this  Hfe, 
and  rather  choofes  and  begs  of  thee,  my  Lord  and 
Comforter,  that  thefe  may  be  referved  for  her  fu- 
ture and  eternal  State.  Acknowledging  it  moft 
equitable,  that  every  one  ihould  lofe  thee,  who 
prefers  any  other  thing  before  thee.  And  there:;' 
Fore  I  make  it  my  moft  earneft  requeft,  that  thou 
v/ilt  not  fuffer  me  to  take  up  with  any  treacherous 
empty  Comforts,  fuch  as  defert  me  when  I  ftand 
in  moft  need  of  them.  But  rather  give  me  a  ge- 
neral difguft,  and  make  all  things  befides  bitter 
and  loathfome  to  me,  that  my  Soul  may  delight 
it  felf  in  nothing  but  my  God ,  whofe  charming 
fwectnefs  is  of  that  invincible  efficacy,  as  even 
to  fweeten  the  bittereft  Afflictions  that  can  pofti- 
bly  befal  Man  111  this  valley  of  Tears  and  Trouble. 

Tranf- 


MEDITATIONS.  zii 


Tranfported  with  the  ravifhing  foretafte  of  this 
Blils,    thy   firft   Martyr  St.  Steven  vo^cdvtdi   the  Ads  7. 
fhowers  of  Stones  poured  on  him  by  his  Murde- 
rers with  Triumph.     Thy  Apoftles  departed  from 
the  prcfence  of  the  Council,  rejoicing  that  they  were  Ads  5. 
counted  worthy  to  fuffer  flame  for  the  name  of  Jefus. 
St.  Andrew  marcJhed  to  his  Crucifixion  without  the 
leaft  regret,  becaufe  advancing  to  the  polleilion  of 
this   Bhfs.      The   two   great   Apoflles    fubmitted 
cheerfully  to  death,    St.  Peter  by  the  Crofs,    St. 
Paul  by  the  Sword.     St.  Bartholomew  thought  he 
made  a  prudent  bargain  when  flay'd  alive,   to  pur- 
chafe  it  with  his  Skin.     St.  John  drank   up  the    ^, 
poyfoned  cup  without  the  Icalt  figns  of  fear.     St. 
Peter  long  before,  upon  a  talte  of  this  unfpeakable 
delight,    cried  out,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here^  we  Matt  17, 
aft:  no  other  happinefs.     Such  mighty  efficacy  had 
a  drop  of  this  fweetnefs  to  create  a  difrelifh  of  all 
other  pleafures :  And  what  can  we  fuppofc  would 
have  been  the  tranfports  of  his  Soul,    could   he, 
while  in  the  body,    have  drunk  the  fulnefs  of  thy 
Cup  overflowing  with  delights  unfpeakable  }  Some 
fuch  antepaft  we  may  imagine  vouchfafed  to  Da- 
lid  wh^n  he  cry'd  out  v%dth  holy  zeal,  O  how  great  ?^^i\.  31.' 
is  thy  goodnefs  which  thou  haft  laid  up  for  them  that  ^9- 
feek  thee  f   and  again,    O  tafte  and  fee  hozv  gracious  34.  8. 
the  Lord  is  I  This  is  the  Bleflednefs  we  live  in  hope 
of  j  this  we  firmly  believe  thy  bounty  will  one  day 
beltow  upon  us,  for  this  we  fight  under  our  Lord's 
Banner  againft  Sin,    the  World,   and  the  Devil  > 
for  the  fake  of  this  we  are  content  to  be  killed  all 
the  day  long^   in  afiurance  that  in  thee  our  life,  we 
fhall  live  for  ever. 

But,  O  thou  hope  of  Ifracl^  and  defire  of  my  heart,  Pfai.  44. 
after  which  I  figh  and  pant  night  and  day,  make  hafte  2.4. 
and  tarry  not.     Arife  and  come,  and  bring  us  out 
of  prifon,  that  we  may  give  thanks  unto  thy  name,  ch.  23. 
and  rejoice  in  the  light  of  thy  Countenance.     Let 
thine  ears  be  open  to  the  Prayers  of  thy  defolate 

Or- 


211  MEDITATION  S. 

Orphans,  and  hold  not  thy  peace  at  then'  Tears; 
they  cry  to  thee  for  their  daily  Bread,  that,  by 
the  ftrength  of  that  they  may  be  fuftained  in 
their  Travels,  and  happily  condu6lcd  to  the  wifh'd 
for  end  of  their  Journey,  even  to  thy  holy  Moun- 
tain. Among  thcfe,  I,  the  leaft  and  moft  un- 
worthy to  be  called  thy  Son,  lift  up  my  Heart 
and  Voice,  confeiling,  that  I  have  no  right  to  cry 
to  my  heavenly  Father  ,  nor  any  defert  which 
might  challenge  admittance  into  thy  Houfe>  but 
begging  notwithflanding  for  thy  own  Mercies 
fake  what  nothing  elfe  can  juflify  my  afking,  even 
that  thy  Servant  may  not  be  confounded ,   which 

Pfal.63.i.puts  his  Truft  in  thee  :  For  who  fhall  enter  into 
thy  SanEltmry^  there  to  behold^thy  po'uoer  and  glory , 
unlefs  thou  open  to  him  ?   And  if  thou  open,  who 

Job  1 2. 1 4>  fhall  {hut?    If  thou  break  down  it  cannot  he  built 

^S'  again:  and  if  thou  fhut  up^  there  can  be  no  opening. 

If  thou  with'holdthe  waters  they  dry  up-,  and  if  thou 

]Qhii.i<^,fend  them  out^  they  overturn  the  earth.  If  thou  cut 
off^  and  command  all  that  thou  haft  made,  back  in- 
to nothing  again,  who  fo all  controul  or  hinder  thee? 
Such  is  thy  Power,  and  no  lefs  is  thy  Mercy ,  ex- 
tending to  every  thing  to  which  thou  giveft  Being. 
And  therefore  we  befecch  thee,  remember  that  we 
are  a  pare  of  the  World  fram'd  by  thee  j  and  pre- 
ferve  thy  own  Workmanfliip.  Vile  Earth  tho'  we 
are ,  thou  art  our  Maker ,  defpife  not  the  VefTels 
of ^ thy  own  Moulding.  AOics  and  Worms  cannot 
indeed  afpire  to  the  blifsful  Regions  of  Eternity ; 
but  that  Power  \vhich  made  all  things  out  of  no- 
thing, can  find  no  difficulty  in  exalting  even  fuch 
as  we  arc,  thither  j  and  that  goodnefs  which  mov- 
ed thee  to  make  them ,  is  fufficient  to  prevail  for 
making  even  thus  happy  the  Creature,   which  thou 

Wifd.  II.  wouldeft  not  have  made,   hadft  thou  not  intended 

^4-  that  they  fhould  be  happy. 

In  this  alone  it  is,   that  I  place  my  hope.     For 

Ch.  24-     I  will  not  trujl  in  my  boiv^  it  is  not  my  [word  that  fiall 

help 


MEDITATIONS.  113 


help  me  j  kit  thy  right  hand  and  thine  arms^  and  the  Pral.44. 3. 
light  of  thy  countenance^  becaufe  thou  hail  favour  to 
thy  own  Handyr^^ork.     Thou  knowefl  our  Frame 
and  Temper,  that  we  are  all  as  a  Le^/ that  withereth, 
our  life  a  blafi  and  vapour  upon  earthy  and  every  Man 
living  altogether  vanity.    And  thefe  reflections  give 
us  confidence ,    that  we  ihall  find  Compaffion  for 
our  Frailties.      For  will   the    God   of  matchlefs 
Strength  exert  his  Power  againft  dry  Stubble,  driv- 
en about  by  every  gull  of  Wind?    Will  the  King  r  Sam.24. 
of  Ifrael  hunt  a  dog  or  a  flea  ?  We  have  heard  large-  i4- 
ly  of  thy  Mercy,  O  Lord,  that  thou  didft  not  create  \Ki^u  13, 
death .y  neither  haft  pleafure  in  the  deftriiUion  of  the  E^i^k.  i§. 
livings  nor  in  the  death  of  him  that  dieth  by  his  own '^'^' 
perverfe  choice.     Suffer  not  therefore,  we  befeech 
thee,  that  which  thou  never  madeft,  to  have  domi- 
nion over  the  Creatures  which  thou  didil  make. 
For  if  thou  art  griev'd  at  our  deftru6tion,  what  can 
obftruft  thy  finding  joy  in  our  Life  and  Salvation  ? 
If  thou  wilt,   thou  canft  fave  me,   but  I  am  not 
able  without  thee  to  fave  my  felf ,  though  I  would 
never  fo  ^  fain :    For  the  number  of  my  Miferies  is 
very  great,  and  their  weight  lies  heavy  upon  me. 

To  will  indeed  is  prefent  with  me^  hut  how  to  per-  Rom.  7; 
form  that  which  is  good  I  find  not.  Nay,  even  to  will  18. 
that  good  is  not  in  my  difpofal ,  and  even  what  I 
have  the  power  to  do,  I  fometimes  find  not  the  in- 
clination to  do,  except  thou  grant  my  Petition,  that 
thy  Will  may  he  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  And 
what  I  would  and  could  do,  I  know  not  how  to 
fet  about,  unlefs  thy  Wifdom  ihew  the  way,  and 
enlighten  my  eyes ,  that  I  may  difcern  and  w^alk 
in  it.  Nay,  farther  yet,  although  I  know  my  du- 
ty, and  have  the  will  and  ability  fometimes  to  dif- 
charge  it  5  yet  all  my  knowledge  is  vain  and  im- 
perfect, unlefs  thy  true  Wifdom,  which  dcfcend- 
eth  from  above,  render  my  knowledge  active  and 
effectual.  For  to  thy  Will  every  thing  is  poffible, 
and  nothing  can  refiil  the  great  Lord  of  all.     Let  / 

then 


ZI4  MEDITATIONS. 

then  thy  Will  be  done  in  us,  upon  whom  thy  name 
is  called,  that  this  noble  Creature  perifh  not, 
which  thou  haft  formed  for  the  illuftration  of  thy 

pf.  89.48.  own  Glory.  For  what  Man  is  he  that  li-vethy  and 
Jhall  not  fee  death^  or  who  can  deliver  his  Soul  from 
the  hand  of  hell^  unlels  thou  plcafe  to  work  out  his 
deliverance,  who  art  alone  that  Source  of  Life,  by 
whofe  life-giving  influence  all  things  live? 

I   have   already  afcribed  my  ftrength  to  Thee, 
and,  with  the  moft  profound  Humility,  confefled, 

Ch.  25.  that  I  did  formerly  truft  in  my  own  ftrength, 
which  upon  trial  proved  no  better  than  weaknefs. 
When  in  this  miftaken  perfuafion  I  attempted  to 
run,  I  fell  where  I  thought  my  felf  moft  able 
to  iland.  I  ftumbled  and  went  backwards,  and 
the  prize  I  aimed  at  fled  farther  from  me,  when 
I  thought  my  felf  making  moft  dire&ly  up  to  it. 
Thus  haft  thou^  by  many  difappointments  of 
my  vain  confident?fe,  brought  me  to  a  true  fight 
of  my  own  impotent  condition.  And  by  thefe 
difpenfations  I  was  inftrufted,  when  that  appcar'd 
leaft  of  all  in  my  power,  which  I  imagined  moft 
cafy  to  be  compalVd,  without  any  fuccours  from 
abroad.  How  often  have  I  boafted,  that  I  would 
attempt  this,  or  perform  that  good  a6tion,  and 
neither  performed,  nor  fo  much  as  attempted  ci- 
ther? How  often  was  my^Will  not  feconded  by 
Power  ?  How  often  hath  my  Power  loft  all  its  efli- 
cacy  for  want  of  the  Will  to  employ?  And  whence 
all  this,  but  want  of  looking  up  to  him,  from 
whence  both  the  Will  and  the  Power  of  doing 
good  is  derived,  and  thinking  my  felf  abfolute  Mat- 
ter of  both,  when  in  truth  1  was  fo  of  neither. 

But,  being  now  brought  to  a  better  fenfe,  I  ac- 
knowledge before  thee,  my  God  and  Father,  that 
by  his  own  ^ropei'  frength  jw  Man  f jail  prevail,  and 
that  it  is  but  a  folly  and  vain  prefumption,    wheri 

1  Sam.  2.  ^^y  j^^jj^  glories  in  thy  pre  fence.     For  it  is  not  in  Man 

2  Cor.  I.  alone  to  will  the  good  he  can  do,  nor  to  perform 
19.    '  the! 


MEDITATIONS.  iiy 

the  good  he  would  do,  no,  nor  to  know  the  good  he 
would  or  could  do :  But  all  their  fleps  are  guided 
by  Thee.  Theirs,  I  fay,  who  are  duly  periuaded, 
that  it  is  not  by  Themfelves,  but  by  Thee  that  they 
are  conduced  in  the  ways  of  holinefs  and  falvation. 
Wherefore  we  moll  earneftly  implore  thee  by  the 
bowels  of  thy  tender  mercies,  that  thou  wilt  lave  the 
Creatures  thou  halt  made.  For  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canft 
do  it  y  and  upon  thy  Will  to  do  it  depends  the  ftrength 
of  our  hopes,  and  the  certainty  of  our  Salvation. 

Call  then  to  re?nembrance  thofe  tender  mercies  ^ijuhich  q^.  25. 
have  been  ever  of  old^  and  to  finifh  that  Goodnefs  in 
its  utmoft  perfe61:ion  with  the  hleffings  whereof  ^howp^^i  2.1.2  • 
hafi  prevented  me  from  the  beginning.    Well  may  I 
fay,  thou  hafl  prevented  me.     For,  long  before  this 
Son  of  thy  Handmaid  was  born,  thou  didft  prepare 
the  way,  wherein  I  fhould  go,  and  by  it  be  led  to 
the  glories  of  thyhoufe.    Before  thou  hadft  formed  p|-^j^  j^^^- 
me  in  the  womb  thou  kneweft  me,  and  hail  deter-  19. 
mined  all  thy  good  pleafure  concerning  me  5  and  e- 
ver  {incel  was  born  I  have  been  holden  up  by  thee,  ^^  . 
by  thee,  my  God  and  my  Hope,  even  from  my  Mo-  ^  ^  * 
ther's  Brealls. 

For  fuch  is  thy  comprehenfive  and  unchangeable 
Knowledge,  that  what  I  now  expecl  thoufands  of 
'  years  to  come,  m  thy  Eternal  Purpofe  is  fixed  and 
done  already :  And,  although  with  regard  to  the 
Event  it  be  ilill  future,  yet  in  Thy  forefight  and  de- 
cree it  is  already  pafied  beyond  the  poilibility  of  re- 
V£rfal  or  alteration.  What  this  is,  fo  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  ftands  indeed  entered  in  thy  Book  j  but 
I,  who  know  not  what  thou  hafl  determined,  am 
full  of  fear  and  jealoufies.  The  vail  variety  of  dan- 
gers that  threaten  me  on  every  fide  j  the  Troops 
of  Enemies  combined  againfl  my  Life,  the  number- 
lels  miferies  that  obflru6l  and  intercept  my  courfe  j 
Thefe  fill  my  Soul  with  fuch  Perplexity  and  Dread^ 
that  wert  not  thou  my  ailiftance  and  fupport,  I 
fhould  be  loll  and  funlv  into  defpair. 


2i6  MEDITATIONS. 

But  my  hope  is  great  in  Thee,  my  moft  merci- 
ful King  and  my  God,  and  in  the  ?nultitiide  of  the 
forrovjs  'which  I  have  in  my  hearty  thy  Comforts  refrejb 
my  Soul.  The  iignal  marks  of  thy  Goodnefs,  even 
before  I  was  born,  in  making  fuch  Provifions  for 
my  happinefs>  The  many  more  which  have  fol- 
lowed me  lince,  and  been  particular  to  Me,  be- 
fides  thofe  common  to  other  Men  >  Thefe  all  for- 
bid me  to  diflrull,  nay,  they  engage  me  to  be  ve- 
ry confident,  that  the  paft  demonllrations  of  thy 
love,  are  pledges  and  earnefls  of  more  and  better 
bleflings  in  referve:  That  fo  much  done  on  my 
behalf  already,  was  never  intended  to  be  loft  j  but 
what  thou  haft  begun  thou  wilt  gracioully  finifh, 
Pfal.  io6.  and  grant  me  in  thy  own  due  time  x,o  fee  the  felicity 
5-  of  thy  chofen^  and  rejoice  in  the  gladnefs  of  thy  people ^ 

Ch.  27.     and  give  thanks  with  thine  inheritance. 

W  hy  fiiould  I  not  believe  and  hope  all  this  ?  Or 
how  indeed  can  I  do  otherwife,  when  thefe  glori- 
ous inftances  of  thy  favour  and  love  occur  to  my 
Thoughts,  fo  ofteny  but  never  too  often,  menti- 
I  John  4.  oned,   O  my  Love  and  only  Delight  ?    Whom  I 
19,  love  becaufe  thou  firft  lovedft  me  3    and  provedft 

it  by  thofe  precious  evidences,  of  creating  me  like 
thy  felf,  preferring  me  in  honour  above  thy  other 
Creatures,  and  inftm^ling  me  how  to  keep  up  the 
dignity  of  my  Chara6ter,  which  is  then  only  pre- 
ferved,  when  I  know  and  ferve  Thee,  for  whofe 
ufe  and  glory  I  was  made. 

The  fame  large  expectations  are  farther  cherifh- 

ed   by  One  reflection  more,    that  of  thy  Angels 

Ff.  1 04.4 r  being  made  Miniftring  Spirits  for  me,  and  having  a 

Pfal.  91.  charge  given  them  over  me,   to  keep  me  in  all  my 

ii»  12,.     J4-^ays^  lefi  at  any  time  I  hurt  my  foot  againfi aStone. 

Thefe  are  the  Guards,   the  fliining  Centinels  upon 

Pfal.  125. the  new  Jerufalem.^   and  thy  Mountains  round  a- 

2.  bout  her  J  keeping  watch  over  thy  flock  night  and 

I  Pet.  5.8.d>iy,  left  our  adverfary  the  Devil .^  (that  old  Serpent, 

who  like  a  roaring  Lion  goes  about  continually  feeking 

:    L  5  "whom 


MEDITATIONS.  117 

whom  he  may  devour)  fhould  at  any  time  furorize 
weak  and  unwaiy  Souls,  and  tear  them  in  pieces  like  Pfal.  17,2; 
a  Lion  J   "while  there  is  none  to  help.     Thefc  are  the 
Denizens  of  that  Blefled  City  above,  which  is  mo-  Gal.  4. 
ther  of  us  all^  fent  forth  to  mini  ft  er  for  them  that  Heb.  x. 
ftmll  be  heirs  of  Salvation^   that  they  may  lupport  ^4- 
and  conduct  them  (Iifely  j    and  who  conliantly  be- 
hold the  Face  of  their  F^^Z;^r  in  Heaven^  who  hath  Matt.  18, 
committed  his  little  ones  to  their  care.  10. 

And  great  is  their  affeiStion  towards  their  Fel- 
low Citizens,  as  the  perfons  in  whom  they  hope 
to  fee  the  breaches  of  their  own  Order  one  day 
repaired.  Hence  are  they  fo  wakeful  and  follici- 
tous  about  us,  fo  ready  to  relieve  us  at  every  time 
and  place,  fjpplying  our  wants,  and  going  dili- 
gently upon  difpatches  between  Us  and  Thee,  our 
common  Lord.  Attending  upon  our  devotions,  i  Cor.  rr; 
prefenting  our  requefts  before  the  Throne  of  10. 
Grace,  and  from  thence  conveying  down  to  us 
the  bleHings  we  defire.  Thefe  bright  attendants 
always  keep  us  company,  go  in  and  out  with  us  j 
obferve  how  holily,  how  decently,  w^e  behave  our 
felves  in  the  midft  of  a  crooked  and  pcrverfe  gene- 
ration 'y  with  what  earned  zeal  ^wc  feek  thy  kingdom^  Matt.  -5* 
and  the  right eoufnefs  thereof -^  with  what  fear  and  11. 
' trembling  we  ferve  the  Majefiy  on  high,  and  with 
what  pious  raptures  our  hearts  are  tranfported  at 
thyGoodnefs.  They  affift  us  in  our  labours,  watch 
over  us  in  our  beds,  encourage  us  in  our  confli6ls5 
crown  us  in  our  conquefts,  rejoice  with  them  that 
rejoice,  provided  they  rejoice  in  Thee,  and  mourn 
with  them  that  mourn,  v/hen  their  forrows  and  fuf- 
ferings  are  for  Thy  fake. 

O  how  vigilant  is  their  Care !  O  how  fervent 
their  Affection!  and  all  this  for  the  magnifying 
that  ineftimable  love,  w^ herewith  thou  hail  vouch- 
fafed  to  love  us.  For  they  love  whom  thou  loveft, 
keep  them  whom  thou  keepeft,  and  forfake  then! 
whom  thou  forfakcft.     They  love  not  the  wicked^ 

P  a,  be-- 


zi8  MEDITATIONS. 

Pf.  5.  S,6.becaure  thou  hateft  all  the  workers  of  iniquity^  and 
ahhorrefi  them  that  [peak  lyes.     When  we  do  well^ 
the  Angels   rejoice,    and  the  Devils  are  grieved : 
When  we  go  aftray,  we  bring  joy  to  Devils,  and 
'     defraud  the  Angels  of  that  Joy  we  owe  them.   For 
l,ul<e  15.  there  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  [inner  that  repentethy 
7>  ^°-      and  Triumph  in  Hell,   over  one  Righteous  Man 
that  relapfeth  into  Sin.     Do  thou  therefore,   graci- 
ous Father,   enlarge  thy  iVngels  Joy  -,    and  furnifh 
matter  for  it  daily  more  and  more,  that  thou  mayit 
be   glorified    in   our   obedience,    and   wc  may  be 
brought  with  Them  into  Thy  one  Fold,   to  give 
thanks  for  ever  to  thy  Holy  Name,   O  Almighty 
Maker  of  Angels  and  Men: 

Thefe  Benefits  I  gratefully  commemorate,   and 
admire  the  greatnefs  of  that  love,  which  gave  thy 
holy  Angels  for  Miniftring  Spirits  to  us.     Thou 
had  ft  given  all  things  under  Heaven  for  our   ufe 
and  fervice,   and  as  if  thou  thoughteft  all  this  too 
little,  thou  hall  given  us  the  inhabitants  of  Heaven 
it  felf,   for  the  lame  gracious  purpofes.     Let  thy 
Angels,   O  Lord,   praife  thee  5    Let  all  thy  works 
render  thanks  unto  thee,    and   let   thy  Saints  for 
ever  blefs  thee,    for  this  mighty  favour.     O  God, 
our  Glory,    how  haft   thou  honoured,    how  haft 
thou  enriched,   how  highly  haft  thou  exalted  and 
ennobled   us,    with   thy  manifold   and  marvellous 
Pfal.  8.  9.  Gifts !    how  excellent^   how  wonderful  is  thy  name^ 
5.4-        O  Lord^  in  all  the  World  >  thou  that  haft  fet  not  on- 
ly thine^   hut  Our  glory  above  the  heavens  f  Lord,  ' 
Job  7. 1 7 .  what  is  Man^  that  thou  art  thus  mindful  of  him^  or  the 
Son  of  Man^  that  thou  fhouldell:  thus  let  thy  heart 
upon  him  ?   Thus  haft  thou  eminently  verified  thy 
Prov.  8.   own  word,    that  thy  delight  is  with  the  Children  of 
3^-  Men.     But  is  not  Man  corruption,  and  the  fon  of 

Job  5.  6. Man  a  worm?    Is  not  every  Man  living  altogether 
vanity?  Yet  doft  thou,  by  a  moft  aftonifhing  con- 
Pfal.  36.6  defcenfion,   open  thine  eyes  upon  fuch  a  one  as  this. 
Job  14. 3. and  bring  him  into  Judgm&nt  with  thee, 

CHAP. 


MEDITAT  IONS,  219 

CHAP.    XIII. 

TPje  methods  of  Gods  Grace  in  our  San^ifica-ch.i^.^g, 
on  and  Salvation,  30- 

TEach  me,   thou  unfathomable  Abyfs  ,    thou 
Wifdom,   by  which  the  World  was  fram'd, 
which  haft  weighed  the  Mountains  in  Scales^    <^^^ira.4o.  iS. 
hang'd  the  vail  Globe  of  the  Earth  in  a  balance  ; 
weigh  up,  I  befeech  thee,  this  heavy  Mafs  of  Bo- 
dy by  thy  invifible  Power,   and  raife  it  nearer  to     , 
thy  felf,  that  I  may  difcern  and  know,   how  won-        | 
(derful  thou  art  in  all  the  World.     O  Light!  ante-        * 
cedent  to  and  produ61:ive  of  all  other  Light,  whofe 
Brightnefs  ihincd  alone  on  the   everlaiting  Hills, 
and  to  whom  all  things  lay  naked  and  open,   evenHeb.j.ia. 
before  they  were  made  j   whofe  Purity  abhors  the 
leaft  Blemifh :    What  Pleafurc  canft  thou  take  in 
Man?    What  Fellowjhip  can  light  fo  clear,    have    ^     ^ 
ijoitb  darknefs  fo  grofs?   Or  where  is  it,    that  thou  j^, 
hall  prepar'd  a  Sanctuary  in  me,  fit  for  fo  glorious 
and  holy  a  Majelly  to  enter,    and  dwell,   and  take 
delight  therein  ?  The  Spirits,   by  whofe  fan6lifying 
Graces  all  things  are  cleanfed,   which  cannot  be 
feen  by  any,  much  lefs  be  polTefs'd  by  any,  but  the 
fure  in  heart ,    w  ill  not  certainly  lodge  in  any  but 
clean  Habitations. 

And  is  it  pollible  to  find  in  Man  a  place  fit  to  re- 
ceive thee  ?  Who  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  un- 
clean ?   Who  indeed,   but  he,   whofe  very  ElTence 
is  Purity  ?  For  that  which  is  unclean  it  felf  cannot 
cleanfe  any  other  thing.     And  this  was  efpecially  g^Q  j  j^^ 
fignified  to  our  Forefathers  xhtjews^  in  the  law  2.0. 
given  from  a  Mountain  burning  with  Fire,    and 
out  of  a  Cloud  and  thick  Darknefs,    by  which  it 
was  ordained,    that  whofoever  was  touched  by  aLevitii. 
Perfon  under  legal  Uncleannefs ,   fhculd  be  reputed 
from  that  Contract  unclean.     And  fuch  alas!   are 

P  5  V/e, 


2  20  MED  I  TAT  I  O  N  S. 

Pfal.5 1 .  5.  We  all :  even  the  very  bell  of  us  polluted,  conceiv'd 

and  born  in  Corruption,  and  carrying  the  marks  of 

our  impurity  fo  vifible,  fo  foul,  that  it  is  to  no  pur- 

pofe  to  attempt  the  concealing  our  blcmifhes  from 

thy  All -feeing  Eyes  unlefs  thou  therefore,   who 

alone  art  pure,  vouch  fife  to  Sanftify  us,  v/e  never 

can  be  clean.  And  this  Mercy  thou  didll  vouchfafe 

to  thefe  among  the  Sons  of  Men ,    in  whom  thou 

Ephef.  I.  condefcendell  to  dwell  J  thefe,  by  the  unfearchable 

Rom.  8.   fecrets  of  thy  Judgments,  (always  julf,   tho'  to  us 

^°'  unknown)    thou  haft  without  any  defert  of  theirs 

predeftinated  before  the  World ,    called  and  chofen 

them  out  of  the  World ,   juftified  in  the  World, 

Jolini7.6,and  wilt  exalt  and  glorify  them  when  the  World 

fhall  be  no  more.     But  this  Mercy  thou  doft  not 

extend  to  all  indifferently,  but  with  moft  wife  difcri- 

minationj  thattheWifdom  of  this  World  may  fee  it, 

and  confume  away  with  envy  and  aftonifhment. 

When  I  refle6b  on  thefe  thy  fecret  Difpenfations , 

amazement  feizes  me  •,    and  the  profound    myfte- 

rious  Methods  of  thy  Wifdom  and  Knowledge  fill 

me  with  wonder  at  Judgments  too  dark  and  vaft 

for  me  to  take  a  diftintb  view  of.     For  to  what 

elfe  can  we  afcribe  the  diftant  Fates  of  the  fame 

fort  of  Creatures,   and,   that  the  Almighty  Potter 

Rom.  9.  fliould  of  the  fame  lump  make  fome  veffels  to  honour^ 

^i-  and  others  to  everlaftins  difJjonour  andlliame?  Thofe 

2  Aim.  1.  ^j^^^.^^Qj,^^   which  thy  love  made  choice  of,  to  be 

Ephef.  5.  ^^  ^^ty  Temple  for  thy  Majefty,   thou  cleanfeft 

26.  by  thy  Spirit,   and  fmclifieft  with  the  wajhing  of 

Pfa].;i47    water  hy  thy  word^    whofe  names  and  numbers  arc 

^  exa6lly  known  to  thee  j    who  count ef  the  number  of 

Luke^'io  ^^^*^^<^^-^5  <^^^^  calleft  them  all  by  their  names :  Thefe 

20.  happy  Men  are  ivritten  in  the  Book  of  Ufe^   and  fo 

1  Pet.1.5.  preferv'd  by  thy  Power  thro""  faith  unto  Salvation^ 

Rom.  8.   ij^.^i  all  things^   even  their  own  faults  and  frailties 

Pf'l  71    '^'^^^  together  for  good  to  them.    Tho'  they  fall^  they 

24. '      '  fi^^^  ^^^  ^^  utterly  caft  down ,    becaufe  thou  upholdejl 

and34.2o.  them  with  thy  hand.     'Thou  keepeft  all  their  bones^  fo 

that  not  one  of  them  is  broken.  But 


MEDITATIONS.  zzi 


But  difmal  and  moft  dreadful  is  the  end  of  Sin- 
ners J    of  fuch  as  thou ,    before   ever  the  World 
was  made,  didll  (in  thy  infinite  Wifdom,  to  which 
the  moft  remote  futurities  are  ever  prefent )    fore- 
fee,   would  deferve  to  be  reprobated  by  thy  juft, 
though  to  us  fecret,  Judgment  >   whofe  Names  and 
Crimes  are  likewife  known  to  thee,   who  telleft 
the  Sands  of  the  Sea,   and  foundeft  the  great  deep. 
Thefe  for  their  manifold  and   obftinate  Offences, 
thou  give  ft  up  to  their  own  hearts  lufts^   and  lettefi^hV  8r. 
them  follow  their  own  imaginations.   And  when  they  ^^>  ^^• 
are  thus  permitted  to  perilh  in  their  folly,  all  things 
work  together  for  their  hurt,    and  the  very  prayer  Prov.  28. 
of  the  wicked  is  turned  into  fin,      Infomuch,   that  9-. 
what  promising  appearances  foever  they  may  make,     '     ^°^* 
yet  all  at  laft  is  blalled,  and  comes  to  nothing  ♦,  and 
even  fuch  as  feem  to  have  fet  their  neft  in  the  Stars, 
are  brought  down ,    and  caft  out  as  dung  upon  the 
face  of  the  Earth. 

Great  and  marvellous  are  thefe  thy  Counfels,   O  r^i  29. 
moft  v/orthy Judge  eternal,  whofitteft  mxkio, throne   .al.9.4, 
of  equity^  and  bringeft  to  pafs  things  deep  and  unfearch"  8. 
able.      And  well  may  thefe  ftrike  terror  through  J^^S-  9* 
every  part  of  me,  fince  Man,    during  this  mortal 
State  cannot  attain  to  per  fed  fecurity ,   but  is  ftill 
left  expofed   to  temptation   and  danger,   that  he 
may  accomphih  his  Warfare  with  the  greater  cir- 
cumfpecbion,  fern)e  thee  in  hoUnefs  and  righteouf- Pf^^i.i.  ir. 
nefs  all  the  days  of  his  life  with  fear ^  and  rejoice  un-  Phij.i.n. 
to  thee  with  Reverence.  That  his  Obedience  may  be 
preferved   by  Awe  ,    and  his  Joy  tempered    with 
humility  and  trembling :    that  he  who  girdeth  on  his 
armour  fijould  not  hoaft  himfelf^   as  he  that  putteth  it 
off'y  nor  any  Flcfh  glory  in  thyprefence  j  but  rather 
fear  and  humble  it  felf  before  thy  Majefty ,   when 
all  are  kept  in  this  profitable  ignorance  of  what 
may  befal  them  in  their  latter  end>   and   cannot 
make  a  judgment  of  thy  love  or  hatred ,    or  ling 
Songs  of  triumph  to  their  Souls,  till  all  the  hazards 
pf  the  fight  be  over,  P  4  How 


Z22  MEDITATIONS. 


How  many  have  our  own  Eyes  feen,  how  many 
more  have  we  heard  of,  (which  yet  I  never  fee,  or 
hear,  or  recolle6b5   without  great  impreflion)  who 
have  been  long  renowned  for  confpicuous  Patterns 
of  heroick  Virtue,  and  fuch  as  feem'd,  if  any  could 
do  fo  abfolutely,  to  have  made  their  Calling  and  E- 
legion  [lire  ?  and  yet  upon  fome  trying  Emergency, 
even  thefe  Men  have  been  vanquifh'd  and  enfnar'd, 
and  fo  entirely  loll,   not  only  to  the  pra6lice,    but 
by  degrees  to  the  very  Principle  of  goodnefs ,    as 
to   wallow    and   be   hardned   pafl:   all   feehng   in 
the  mofl  enormous  and  fcandalous  Debaucheries  ! 
Rev.  12.  Such  are  the  Stars  of  Heaven  ^  ftruck  down  to  the 
Earthy  with  a  fweep  of  the  Dragon's  Tail.     How 
many  on  the  other  hand  ( which  fuftains  me  with 
Comfort)  who  have  lain  grovelling  in  duil  and  filth, 
profligate  and  ignorant,  as  well  as  avcrfe  to  all  good- 
nefs,   yet   even   thefe   abandon'd  Wretches   thou 
had  wonderfully  rais'd,    when  they  feem'd  to  be 
juft  finking  into  Hell.     Thus  may  we  frequently 
obferve  the  living  die  unexpectedly ,   and  the  dead 
in  trefpafies  and  m  fins ,   as  much  to  our  furprizc, 
Mat.8.T2  r3,is'd  to  a  Life  of  Righteoufncfs  and  Hope:  Light 
clouded  over  with  Darknefs,    and  Darknefs  break- 
ing  forth  into  marvellous  Light.      Publicans  and 
Harlots    feizing   Heaven   by  Violence ,    and    the 
Children   of  the  Kingdom  caft   into   utter  Dark- 
nefs. 

And  whence  all  this,  but  becaufe  they  afcended 
into  that  Mountain  of  Pride  into  which  the  firft 
Pattern  of  Difobedience  went  up  an  Angel,  bqt 
came  down  a  Devil?  Whereas  the  meek  and  hum- 
ble are  the  Perfons  chofen  and  called,  fin61:ified 
and  built  up  a  meet  habitation  for  the  Majeify  of 
the  Great  God,  thro'  the  Spirit  of  his  Grace.  With 
thefe  thou  cnjoyeil  holy  and  chafte  Delights  >  dwel- 
ling in  their  Hearts  by  thy  Prefence ,  and  making 
them  thy  Temple,  which  is  the  highefl:  Honour 
our  humane  Nature  is  capable  o£ 

Foj 


MEDITATIONS.  213 

For  this  Soul  of  ours,  which  thou  hail  created Gh.  30. 
by  thy  Word,  though  not  of  thy  own  Subftancej 
nor  yet  of  any  elementary  Matter ,  but  out  of  no- 
thing. This  rational,  intellectual,  and  fpiritual 
Being,  ever  living,  and  ever  in  motion,  (upon 
which  thou  hall  impreffed  thy  likenefs,  and  confe- 
crated  it  to  thy  felf  by  the  laver  of  Regeneration) 
is  put  into  a  Capacity  of  receiving  thy  Divine 
Majefty,  and  fo  contrived,  as  to  be  filled  with  thee, 
and  nothing  elfe  but  thee.  When  it  is  in  poiTeili- 
on  of  thee  its  defires  are  fatisfied,  and  nothing  be- 
iides  remains  an  Objed  of  its  wifhes.  But  while 
it  continues  to  defire  any  external  Object,  it  ma- 
nifeftly  betrays  the  want  of  thee  within  >  be- 
caufe  when  thou  art  there  it  feeks  for  nothing  be- 
yond thee. 

For  fince  thou  art  the  fuprcme  and  univerfal 
Good,  in  thee  polTelling  all  things  ,  it  cannot 
want  any  thing  that  is  good.  But  if  it  do  not  de- 
fire that  which  is  the  fumm  of  all  Good,  fome  o- 
ther  good  will  neceflarily  be  fought  after,  becaufe 
It  hath  not  yet  attain'd  to  All ,  nor  yet  to  the 
Chief  Good,  and  aims  at  the  pofTefiion  of  the  Crea- 
ture rather  than  the  Creator.  And  fo  long  as  the 
Creature  is  the  Objeft  of  its  defires ,  thofe  defires 
are  never  to  be  fatisfied  >  for  fome  frelTi  thing  is 
ever  prefenting  it  felf,  and  the  Soul  ftill  remains 
empty  and  dilcontented ,  becaufe  out  of  its  Ele- 
ment and  dcftitute  of  its  proper  happinefs.  "  For 
nothing  is  fo,  but  the  utmofl  perfeAion  it  is  qua- 
lified for ,  and  fuch  alone  is  that  bleffed  Original , 
after  whofe  Image  it  was  made  at  firft.  Now  thou 
art  pleafed  thus  to  communicate  thy  felf  only  to 
fuch ,  who  defire  ,  nothing  but  thee.  Such  thou 
makefl  holy  as  thou  art  holy ,  pure  and  worthy  of 
thee,  fuch  elleemefl  thy  Friends,  who  counting  all 
things  but  as  drofs  and  dung,  propofe  no  other 
cndj  no  other  blifs  but  to  gain  tliee  alone. 

And 


2X4  MEDITATIONS. 

And  this  is  the  bleflednefs ,  which  thy  Mercy- 
hath  beftowed  upon  Man  :  This  is  thy  Honour, 
with  which  thou  hall  diflinguifhed  thy  favourite 
Creature  ,  and  exalted  him  far  above  the  reft  of 
the  Works  of  thy  Hands.  And  now,  O  Lord,  at 
length  I  have  found  out  the  place  where  the 
Great,  the  Good,  the  Mighty  God  is  pleafed  to 
dwell.  Even  in  that  Soul  which  thou  haft  form'd 
into  a  refemblance  of  thy  own  Excellencies  j  which 
feeks,  and  loves,  and  longs  for  thee  alone  j  but  not 
in  that,  which  divides  its  afFeclions,  and  either 
loves  thee  and  defires  thee  not,  or  loves  and  longs 
for  other  things  befides  thee. 


CHAP.    XIV. 

Ch.2T,i2.  ff^e  are  not  to  conceive  God  to  be  a  fenjible 

Object. 

I  Have  gone  aftray  like  a  Sheep  that  was  loft, 
feeking  thee  with  great  anxiety  without,  when 
yet  thou  art  within,  and  dwelleft  in  my  Soul, 
if  it  defire  my  prefence.  I  wandred  about  the 
Villages  and  Streets  of  the  City  of  this  World, 
enquiring  for  thee  every  where  ^  and  found  thee 
not  'y  becaufe  I  expected  t9  meet  that  abroad  3 
which  all  the  while  I  had  at  home.  I  fent  my 
Meflcngers  into  all  Quarters,  and  charged  my  bo- 
dily. Senfes  to  make  ftridt  fearch,  and  bring  back 
\  a  true  report ,  but  all  to  no  purpofe  ^  becaufe  I 
/  took  a  wrong  method,  and  employed  thofe  w^ho 
were  not  quahfied  for  the  difcovery  :  This  Error 
I  now  perceive,  becaufe  thou  haft  enlightned  and 
ihewcd  me  the  right  way^  for  though  thou  art 
within  me,  yet  none  of  thefe  Centinels  could  give 
any  account  how  thou  cameft  thither. 

My 


MEDITATIONS.  22  j 


My  Eyes  declare ,  if  God  have  no  colour ,  he 
came  not  in  at  thofc  doors  >  my  Ears,  if  he  made 
no  noifc,  did  not  pals  this  way^  my  Nofe,  if 
he  did  not  affect  the  fmcll,  he  enter'd  not  by  me  j 
my  Palate,  if  he  have  no  tafte,  he  could  not  enter 
here  >  my  Touch,  if  he  be  not  a  bodily  Subflance, 
I  can  give  no  account  of  him.  Thefe  Qualities 
then  do  not  belong  to  thee,  my  God,  becaufe  I 
am  not  confcious  of  any  fuch  impreflions  upon 
thy  approach.  For  thou  hall  not  the  form  of  a 
Body,  nor  the  whitenefs  of  Light,  nor  the  fpar Id- 
ling of  precious  Stones,  nor  the  Harmony  of  Mu- 
lick,  nor  the  fragrancy  of  Flowers,  or  Ointments, 
or  Spices ,  nor  the  delicious  talle  of  Honey ,  nor 
the  charms  of  thofe  things  that  are  pleaiiint  to  the 
Touch,  nor  any  other  qualities  by  which  our 
Senfes  are  entertained.  When  I  feek  after  God,  I 
purfue  a  happinefs  very  different  from  all  thefe  5 
for  to  fuppofe  him  fuch  a  Being,  as  even  Brutes 
are  capable  of  feeling  with  the  Organs  of  Senfe, 
were  to  think  moil  unworthily,  moil  abfurdly  of 
him.  # 

And  yet  I  cannot  but  acknowledge,  that  in  God 
I  expect  to  find  a  certain  light  above  all  other 
hght ,  too  bright  for  Mortal  Eyes  to  behold  j  a 
powerful  voice  above  all  other  voices,  too  llrong 
for  any  Ear  to  hear  j  A  fwectnefs  above  all  other 
fweets,  too  exquiiite  for  any  taile  to  reliih-.  A 
Light  fhining  without  being  confin'd  by  any  de- 
terminate fpace  'y  a  Voice  founding  without  lofing 
it  felf  in  Air,  a  fragrant  Perfume  without  the  af- 
liftance  of  Winds  to  wafte  it.  Such  is  my  God, 
and  there  is  none  that  can  be  compared  unto  him  : 
And  fuch  is  the  Objeft,  which  my  Soul  loves  and 
longs  after. 

And  too  late  it  was ,  that  I  fet  my  heart  upon 
thee,  O  my  beloved,  whofe  Beauty  was  from  ever- 
lafting  and  yet  is  always  new  and  blooming.  Too 
Jong  did  I  puifucthee  in  vain,  while  running  after 

the 


xx6  MEDITATIONS. 

the  beauteous  Creatures  thou  haft  made,  and 
thinking  there  to  find  thee.  Thou  waft  with  me, 
but  I  was  not  with  thee  5  and  thofe  things  kept 
me  at  a  diftance  from  thee,  which  yet  could  not 
lubfift  except  in  and  by  thee.  I  afked  the  Earth , 
if  it  was  not.  my  God,  and  it  anfwered  No-^  and 
all  that  it  contains  unanimoufly  agreed  in  the  fame 
Confeflion.  I  afkM  the  Sea,  the  Great  Depths, 
and  all  the  yaft  and  ftrange  variety  of  Creatures 
living  and  engendred  in  thofe  watry  Regions  j  they 
reply 'd,  We  are  not  thy  God^  look  for  him  above 
lis.  I  enquir'd  of  the  Firmament,  and  the  Air 
with  all  its  Inhabitants  replied,  that  Anammenes 
was  quite  miftaken^  fo  did  the  Sun,  and  Moon, 
and  Stars  declare  they  were  not  God.  Then  I 
defired  the  obie6t  of  my  Scnfes,  to  inform  me 
fomewhat  of  that  Good,  which  they  difclaimed 
all  pretence  of  being  taken  for.  They  all  cried 
out  aloud,  //  is  he  that  made  us.  At  laft  I  reforted 
to  this  Globe  of  the  World ,  but  there  again  the 
anfwer  w^as,  I  am  not  God^  but  I  am  by  him:  the 
Bein^ivhom  you  feck  in  me  is^  he  that  made  me.  And 
you  look  much  too  low  >  for  he  who  made  and  governs  me 
is  much  more  excellent,  znd  feated  far  above  me. 

Now  by  enquiring  of  the  feveral  Creatures ,  I 
mean  by  an  attentive  conlideration  of  their  rcfpec- 
■  live  Natures  and  Conditions :  And  by  their  anfwers, 
that  evidence  of  their  being  created  by  God,  which 
is  the  plain  rcfult  of  fuch  a  consideration.  For 
moft  agreeable  to  the  Experience  of  every  wife  and 
Rom.  I.  {q]^q^.  Perfon  is  that  of  the  Apoftle,  that  the /;^^7//^/^ 
things  of  God  are  clearly  fecn  from  the  Creation  of  the 
world.,  being  undcrftoodby  the  things  that  were  made. 

After  confuking  thus  the  Creatures  abroad,  I 
came  home  at  laft,  dcfcended  into  my  felf,  and 
afked,  What  art  thou  ?  The  reply  made  me  was,  A 
rational  and  mortal  Man.  Then  I  begun  to  exa- 
mine what,  and  from  whence  this  fort  of  Animal 
fhould  be,   and  prefently  reflcded,  Whence  could  it 

pjjibly 


10. 


MEDITATIONS.  2x7 

pojfibiy  he  hut  from  Thee?   It  is  thou^  my  God^  that?  hi,  loo. 
hafi  made  me^  and  not  I  my  [elf.     But  Hill,  who  art  2.. 
Thou?   Thou  art  He,  by  whom  I  livcj   He  by 
^whom  all  things  Hve  :    Thou  art  the  true  God^ 
the  only  omnipotent,   and  eternal,  and  incompre- 
henfible,   and  infinite.      Everlafting,    and  nothing 
dyes  in  Thee  3  for  thou  art  immortal  and  inhahiteft  \(^\,  j.  7, 
Eternity^    Wonderful  in  the  Eyes  of  the  Angels,  rj. 
inexprefiible,    unfearchable ,    and  of  perfection  fo 
great   as   wants   a   name.      Strong  and  powerful, 
and  greatly  to  be  feared,   without  beginning  and 
without  end.   Thy  felf  the  beginning  and  the  end 
of  all  things.      Exifting  before  Time  was,  Gover- 
nour  and  Lord  of  all  that  thou  hall  made  5  whole 
Caufes  all  are  fixed  in  thee,  and  the  Effects  fubfift 
in  fuch  manner  and  to  fuch  a  term,  as  thy  immu- 
table Vsafdom  fees  fit. 

Tell  then  thy  Servant,  who  defires  to  know. 
Whence  could  Man  take  his  original,  but  from 
Thee  ?  Could  any  of  us  give  lite  and  being  to 
himfelf  ?  Nay,  was  it  pofiible  for  any  other  to  give 
him  either,  but  for  Thee  alone  ?  Art  not  Thou 
the  firft  and  fupreme  Being,  from  whom  all  elfe  * 
receive  their  being  ?  Whatever  is,  is  certainly  from 
thee,  for  nothing  is  without  thee.  Thou  art  the 
Fountain  of  Life :  Whatever  Hves,  by  thee  it  lives  ; 
for  nothing  can  live,  without  thee.  Thou  haft  made 
all  things,  and  can  I  then  doubt  who  made  me? 
Thou  certainly  art  my  maker,  and  I  thy  work- 
manfhip.  Thanks  be  to  my  God,  by  whom  I  and 
all  things  fubfift  and  Hve,  for  my  Creation  : 
Thanks  to  this  fkilful  Artificer,  whofe  hands  made 
and  fafhioned  me,  for  creating  me  a  Man.  Thanks 
to  that  light,  which  difcovercd  it  felf  to  Me,  and 
Me  to  my  felf  For  in  finding  and  knowing  my 
felf,  I  find  and  know  thee :  And  by  the  communi- 
cation of  thy  hght,  it  is  that  I  know  thee.  Thanks 
therefore,  O  my  God,  all  thanks  and  praife  be  to 
thee,  for  thus  enlightening  mc. 

But 


228  MEDITATIONS. 

'But  how  can  I  pretend  to  fay,  I  know  thee?  Art 
not  thou  God  infinite,  incomprehenliblc,  the  King 
I  Tim.  I.  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords,  'who  only  haft  mmor- 
^1'  tality^  and  dwelleft  in  light  'which  cannot  be  approached 

unto^  whom  no  Man  hath  feen  or  can  fee  ?  A  God  that 
liidell  thy  felf  from  mortal  Eyes  ?   And  who  can 
know   what   he   hath   never  feen  ?    The  Herald, 
fent  to  prepare  the  way  for  thy  Truth,   proclaim- 
JoVi.  T.iS.ed,   A^^  Man  hath  feen  God  at  any  time-^    and  that 
Mjtt.  II.  Truth  it  felf  declared.  No  man  knoweth  the  Son^  but 
^7-  the  Father.^  neither  knoweth  any  man  the  Father^  but 

the  Son.     Thus  the  Lord  is  (aid  to  be  high  above 
all  heavens,   and  fuch  as  even  the  Angels  (flri6tly 
fpeaking)  do  Father  admire  than  behold :    This  is 
John  3.    the  heaven  to  which  none  hath  afcended  up^   but  he 
13.  that  came  down  from  heaven:   Thus  the  Father  is 

known  to  none  but  the  Son  and  the  Spirit  pro- 
ceeding from  both  3  'and  the  Son  to  none  but  the 
Father  and  the  fame  Spirit  common  to  them  both : 
The  holy  and  wonderful  Trinity  does  then  exceed 
all  comprehenfions  but  its  own  3  and  the  very  An- 
gels, who  are  continually  looking  into  this  glorious 
Eflence,  and  contemplate  it  with  a  moft  intenfe 
defire,  yet  are  not  able  to  exprefs,  conceive,  or  ac- 
quaint themfelves  throughly  with,  all  its  moll  my- 
ilerious  Perfections. 

How  is  it  then  that  I  know  the  moft  high  God, 
whom  neither  heaven  nor  earth  contain,  whom 
even  Cherubim  and  Seraphim  adpre  with  aftonifli- 
ment,  and  veil  their  Faces  with  their  wings  before 
him  that  fits  on  the  Throne  5-  crying  out  Boly^  holy^ 
Ifai.  6.  JjQiy^  Lord  God  of  hofts^  heaven  and  earth  are  full  of 
thy  glory  ?  I  know  thee  not,  my  God,  as  thou  art  in 
thy  Self,  but  as  thou  art  with  refped  to  Me :  Not 
in  thy  Eflence  but  thy  Operations  3  and  even  this 
knowledge  is  not  from  any  powers  of  my  own, 
but  wholly  owing  to  the  guidance  of  that  Light, 
which  thou  art  plcafed  to  reflecl  upon  me.  Thy 
Glories   arc   underllood   by   tHy   felf   alone,    thy 

Grace 


MEDITATIONS.  229 

Grace  and  Goodnefs  manifefted  to  me.  And  what 
art  thou  with  refpect  to  me  ?  Tell  me,  O  Lord, 
and  fay  unto  my  SouU  I  ^^  thy  Salvation,  HidePfal.35  3- 
not  thy  face  from  me,  left  I  dye :  Suffer  me  to 
fpeak  to  thy  Mercy,  who  am  but  Duft  and  Afhes. 
Thou  haft  made  thy  voice  to  be  heard  from  above, 
and  broken  through  the  deafnefs  of  my  heart  j  thy 
light  hath  fhined  forth  >  and  thou  haft  fhewed  me 
that  thou  art  vaj  Saviour  and  my  merciful  God-y  and 
thus  it  is,  that  I  have  faid  I  know  thee. 

Thus  have  I  .known  thee  the  only  true  God^  and  ^^^-'^1^1* 
.  yefus  Chrifi  whom  thou  haft  fent.  How  wretched  ^ 
was  that  Bhndnefs,  in  which  I  faw  thee  not! 
How  ftupid  that  Deafnefs,  when  I  heard  thee  not ! 
How  miferable  my  condition,  when  I  loved  thee 
not!  For  no  Man  loves  thee,  who  does  not  fee 
thee,  and  none  can  fee  thee,  who  does  not  love 
thee. 

Honour,  and  Praife,  and  Thankfgiving  be  to  the  Ch.  32, 
Light   of   my  Life,    for   thofe   manifeftations   of 
himfelf,   which  he  hath   vouchfafed  to  make   to 
my  Soul.     But   how   is   it  that  thou  haft  mani-  P^"^-  S5. 
fefted  thy  felf  to  me  ?    Even  by  inftru6ling  me,  ]?' 
that   thou   art   my   only  God   and  Creator,    the  tq^"*j-^^' 
true   living   God,    Almighty,   Immortal,   Invifi- Gen.17!^] 
ble ,     Eternal ,    Incomprehenftble ,    Unfearchable, 
Unchangeable,     Infinite,     by   whom    all   things  ^ '^^"^' ^* 
were   made,     and    the    principles   of   all   fubfift.  jj^,  n.y, 
Whofe   Majefty   as   it   had   no  beginning  or  en- 
creafe,    fo  fhall  it  never  have  diminution  or  end.  ^^^^-  ^^''^' 
The  One  ox-ly  God,    Father,    Son,    and   Holyf'^^*''- 
Ghoft,  Three  Perfons  and  One  Subftance,  Author  John  r.  %, 
and  common  Caufe  of    all  things  vifible  and  in-  Colof.  1I 
vifible,    who  by  thy  mighty  power  didft  at  the^^- 
beginning  of  time   form  Spiritual   and  Corporeal 
Subftances  3     The   Angels   of   the    former,    the 
things  of  this  world  oF  the  latter  fort  -,   and  Man 
partaking  of  both  natures  confifting  of  Body  and 
Spirit,    by  a  ftupendous  conjunction  of  ,  material 

and 


230  M  E  DITATION  S. 


and  immaterial,    and  all  thefe  created  out  of  no- 
thing. 

I  know  and  acknowledge  thee,  O  Father,  be- 
gotten of  none,   Thee,   O  Son,   begotten  of  the 

John  14.  Father,  Thee,  O  holy  Ghoft  the  Comforter,  pro- 

^^^  cceding  from  both.    Three  Perfons  coequal,  con- 

fab ilantial,   coeternal:     This  Holy  undivided  Tri- 

Rom.  10  nity  in  Unity,    and   Unity  in  Trinity,    /  believe 

9>  10-  "with  the  heart  unto  right eoufnefs^  and  confefs  with 
the  mouth  unto  Salvation. 

I  confefs  and  acknowledge  Thee  the  true  God, 
and  our  Lord  Jefus  Chriil:,  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God,   Creator,    Saviour  and  Redeemer  of  me, 

John  I.-:;,  and  of  all  Mankind.     Begotten  of  the  Father^  before 

5.  all  worlds^  God  of  God^  Light  of  Light ^  Very  God  of 

Very  God^  being  of  one  Suhfiance  voith  the  Father  and 

Heb.  1.3.  Holy  Spirit,  By  whom  all  things  were  made.  Firm- 
ly believing,  that  thou,  God,  only  begotten  Jefus 
Chriil,  by  a  marvellous  Concurrence  of  the  whole 

Mat.i.i  I.  Trinity,  wa{l/<?r  usAIen^  and  for  our  falvation^  in- 
carnate of  the  ever  Virgin  Mary^  conceived  by  the 
operation  of  the  Holy  Gholf,  and  fo  perfect  God 
was  made  perfect  Mayi^  of  a  reafonable  Soul  and 
humane  flejh  fubfifling. 

Who,  though  in  regard  of  thy  Divine  Nature, 

Joh.T.iJ.thou  art  impanible  and  immortal,  yet,  for  the  un- 
fpeakablc  Love,  wherewith  thou  haft  loved  us, 
didft  by  taking  our  humane  into  that  divine  nature,- 

Eph.  2.  4.  become  fubic6t  to  Sufferings  and  Death.  And  thus 
the  lame  Son  of  God  condefcendcd  to  dye  upon 
the  Crofs  for  a  time,  that  he  might  deliver  us  from 

1  Pet.  2  everlafting  Death.     Thou,   Giver  of  Light,    de- 

2.1,24.  fccndedft  into  Hell,  where  our  Forefathers  fat  in 
darkncfs  3    and  the  third  day  didft  rife  again  from 

Matt.  28.  thence  a  glorious  and  triumphant  Conqueror  j  ta- 
king up  that  bleffed  Body  of  thine,  w^hich  for  our 
fins  had  lain  dead  in  the  grave,  and  reftoring  it  to 
life  the  third  day  according  to  the  Scriptures,  that 
thou  mighteft  enthrone  it  at  the  right  hand  of  the 

Fa- 


MEDITATIONS.  231 

"  '        '  ■!  .  II  I  III  — — —    iiiiiImH 

Father.     Then  didft  thou  lead  that  captivity  cap-  Eph.  4.  8, 
tive,  which  the  Enemy  of  Mankind  had  taken  Pn-»  10. 
fonerj  and  thus;,  thou  very  Son  of  God,  with  our 
veiy  fubftanee,  that  is,  the  humane  Soul  and  Body 
derived  from  thy  blelled  Virgin  Mother,  haft  af- 
cended  up  on  high,  far  above  all  Heavens  j  Angels, 
PrincipaUties,   and   Powers  being  made  fubjedt  to  r  Pet.  3. 
thee>  where  now  thou  fitteft  at  the  right  hand  of  2.1. 
God,   in  endlefs  overflowing  Life,  in  Light  inac- 
ceffible^  in  that  Peace,  which  paiTeth  all  underftand- 

There  wc  believe  and  woiihip  Jefus  Chrift,  very 
God  and  very  Man  >  confefling,  that  God,  who  hath 
fo  highly  exalted  thee^  is  thy  Father  of  a  truth,  and 
waiting  for  thy  coming  in  the  end  of  the  world  to  Adts  ro; 
judge  the  quick  and  dead^  and  reyider  to  every  Man  ac-^'^- 
wording  to  his  works -y  To  the  Good  reward  and  reft^  ^^^^^*     * 
to  the  Evil,  grief  and  punifhment  eternal.     For  at 
that  day  fliall  all  Men  hear  thy  voice,  and  fhallcome  Rom. 2.5, 
forth  with  their  own  bodies,  that  each  may  r^^^/'z;^7>8,9,  lo. 
at  thy  hand  according  to  that  he  hath  done  in  his  ho^  %     ^* 
dy.y  whether  it  he  good  or  had-.     Thou  art  our  Life,  n'  25! 
thou  art  our  Refurre^tion,  and  in  thee  we  look  for  1  Cor.  5. 
a  Saviour,  Jefus  Chrift  the  Lordly  who  JJoall  change  ^^^^■3-'^^* 
our  vile  body,  and  faJJjion  it  like  unto  his  glorious  ho^ 
dy,   according  to  his  mighty  working  whereby  he  is  a* 
hie  to  fubdue  all  things  to  himfelf. 

I  know  and  acknowledge  thee^   the  One  true 
God,    Holy  Spirit,    Proceeding  from  the  Father  r  Job.  5  7, 
and  the  Son  >   Of  the  fame  Subftance  and  Eternity  John  14. 
with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  Our  Advocate  and 
Comforter  >   who  didft  defcend  like  a  Dove  upon  Matt.  3; 
the   fame   our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,    and  appear  in  ^  •^• 
fiery  Tongues  upon  the  Blefled  Apoftles.      Who^^^^-^^ 
haft  from  the  beginning  of  the  World  fhed  abroad  ^^j^^'j^] 
the  Gifts  of  thy  Grace  upon   all   the  Saints  and        '     ' 
Chofen  of  God,   and  opened  the  Mouths  of  the 
Prophets,   that  they  might  reveal  the  Wonders  of 
his  Kingdom  >  Who  with  the  Father  and  the  Son 

Q.  toge- 


23  z  MEDITATIONS. 

together    art    worfliipped    and    glorified    in     all 

Churches  of  the  Saints.     Among  whom  I  alfo,  thy 

meaneft  Sei-vant,   beg  leave  to  publilli  thy  praifes, 

for  the  faving  Light  communicated   to   my  poor 

Soul.     For  thou  art  the  true  Light,  the  holy  Fire 

of  God,    to  whom  all  Saints  are   fubje6t  5    The 

I  John  2.  Spirit  of  Truth,  who  by  thy  Un^ion  teacheth  us 

^OyZi.     all  truth*.,    without  whofe  Grace  it  is  impoflible  to 

^^"^'    '  pleafe  God  3    for  thou  art  God  of  God,  and  Light 

'  proceeding  after  a  myfterious  and  ineffable  manner 

from  the  Father  of  Lights,  and  from  his  Son  Jefus 

Chriii  our  Lord.     With  Thefe  Thou  art  coequal, 

and  coeternally  united   in  the  fame  EfTence,    and 

with  them  reignefl,  and  art  glorified  by  a  fingular. 

and  a  moffc  ftupendous  Union. 

Thus  do  I  know  the  One  true  God,  Three  in 

Perfons,   and  One  in  EfTence  j    Thus  do  I  confefs 

and  adore  with  my  whole  Heart  the  Maker  and 

Governour  of  all  things  that  are  in  Heaven  and 

Earth,   and  under  the  Earth.     I   know  thefe  by 

that  Faith  which  thou  haft  infpired  into  me>  for 

Thou  art  the  Light  of  my  Eyes,   the  Hope  of  all 

the  ends  of  the  Earth,  the  Joy  of  my  Youth,  and 

Pf,  35.1c.  the  Support  of  my  Old  Age.     jlll  my  Bones  Jh all 

he  joyful  in  thee^   and  fay^   Lord^    who  is  like  unto 

Thee  ?  Yea,  who  among  the  Gods  is  like  unto  "Thee^ 

O  Lord^  who  art  not  made  as  they  were,  by  Mens 

hands,  but  who  thy  felf  didft  make  the  hands  of 

Pfal.  1 15.  Men?  The  Luages  of  the  Heathen  are  Stiver  and 

I  Kings    Gold^  and  all  their  Gods  are  Devils.    But  it  is  the  Lord 

^S-  39-     that  made  the  Heavens.     The  Lord  he  is  the  God. 

P[a.97-  V.rpj^g  ^^^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^  Q^^^     Confounded  be  all  the 

vain  Gods,  and  let  them  find  no  place  in  Heaven 

and  Earth,   who  made  neither  Heaven  nor  Earth  j 

Exod.  lo.but  let  Heaven  and  Earth,   and  all  that  therein  is, 

!i.  for  ever  glorify  and  praife  thy  name>  for  thou  hall 

made  Heaven  and  Earthy  and  all  that  therein  is. 


CHAP. 


MEDI  TATIONS.  233 


CHAP.    XV. 

AConfeJJion  of  our  own  Vilenefs^  and  God's Qh^'i^y'id,, 

Excellencies. 

WHO  is  like  unto  Thee^    O  Lord^   among  tbeEKod.i^i 
Gods^  Who  is  like  tmto  1'hee^  glorious  in  ho-n. 
linefs^  fearful  in  fraifes^  doing  tvonders  ?   Too  late, 
alas!    it  is,  that  I  am  brought  to  a  due  fcnfe  and 
knowledge  of  thee.     A  thick  and  gloomy  Cloud 
hung  too  long  before  my  blinded  Eyes,  through 
which  I  was  not  able  to  difcern  the  Sun  of  Righ- 
teoufnefs  and  Light  of  Truth.     I  was  muffled  up 
in  darknefs,   a  child  of  darknefs,  and  did  not  only 
endure  but  love  my  darknefs  j  becaufe  as  y<5t  in  ig- 
norance of  the  truth.     I  was  blind,  and  fond  of  my 
defeft  and  mifery,   and  every  day  bcwildred  more 
and  more,    in  darknefs  that  might  even  be   felt. 
And  what  kind  Friend  was  He  that  took  me  by 
the  Hand  to  draw  me  out  of  this  fhadow  of  Death? 
Who   fo   compaffionate    a  Guide    to    this   blind 
Wretch,  to  feek  me  when  I  fought  not  Hinij   to 
call  me  when  I  never  cried  for  help,  never  com- 
plained, nay,  never  felt  my  calamitous  and  loil  con- 
dition?   This  can  be  none  but  Thine,   my  God, 
the  Father  of  Mercies^  and  the  God  of  all  Comfort,  i  Cor.  1.3. 
No  Bowels  lefs  enlarged  than  Thine,   could  fliew 
fuch  tender  Pity  and  Affeftion.     Blefled  therefore, 
be  thy  name  5   for  ever  blefled  be  thy  love,  which 
was  found  of   a  mifei-able  Creature,    who  fought 
thee  not^  and  afked  for  him  that  enquired  not  after  liai.  65.  i» 
thee. 

In  this  fpiritual,  as  heretofore  in  the  natural 
Creation,  thy  powerful  Voice  faid.  Let  there  he  Gen.  1,3', 
lights  and  there  was  light.  The  grofs  Night  which 
fwum  before  my  Eyes  difFolvcd  in  an  inftant.  I 
felt  it  fcatter,  and  defcryed  the  dawning  day, 
and  heard  the  powerful  command,    and  full   of 

CL^  th^k-; 


Z34  MEDITATIONS. 


thankful  wonder  cried  out,  'Thou  verily  art  my  God^ 
which  haft  brought  me  out  of  darknefs  and  the  Jhadoixi 
of  death^  into  thy  marvellous  light.     Thou  fpakeft 
the  Word,  and  behold  I  fee.   Then  did  1  firil  difco 
ver  the  Horror  of  my  former  Darknefs,  the  difmal 
Abyfs  in  which  I  lay  ♦,  and  trembled  at  the  reflc6li- 
on.      O  wretched  ftate  !   O  mod:  uncomfortable 
Blindnefs,  which  all  the  Light  of  Heaven  did  not 
penetrate !    O  deplorable  Ignorance !  which  knew 
not  him  who  made  me,    prefcrves  me,   is  always 
prefent    with  .me,     always    infeparably    in     me. 
Thanks  to  my  God,  for  bringing  me  to  a  fight  of 
that,   which  I  muil  needs  have  feen  before,   had 
not  my  corruption  been  fo  oppofite  to  thy  purity, 
But  then  alas !  we  are  in  direct  Contrariety,  Thou 
light,  I  darknefs  ^  and  difcern  thee  I  could  not,  till 
thou  dartedfl  thy  felf  into  my  foul>  for  there  is  no 
light  bcfides,  none  without  thee. 
Ch.  34.        Such  is  my  meannefs  and  mifery,.  confidered  in 
it  felf,    but  I  am  yet  much  more  vile  and  defpi- 
cable  in  my  ow»  fight,  when  from  fuch  reflections 
I  faife  my  Soul  to  contemplate  thy  unchangeable 
Majeily,  O  Lord  God  molt  holy,  God  of  Gods, 
and  Lord  of  Lords,  at  whofe  prefence  the  Holts  of 
Angels  tremble,  Dominions  and  Thrones  fall  down 
and  adore,   of  whofe  Power  and  Wifdom  thei-e  is 
no  end,  no  meafure  j   Who  halt  laid  the  foundati- 
ons of  the  World  upon  nothing,  and  gathered  the 
Waters  of  the  Sea  together  as  an  heap  5  the  molt 
mighty  God  of  the  Spirits  of  all  flefh  >   at  whofe 
Word   and   Prefence  the  Heavens  and  the  Earth 
quake,   and  to  whofe  beck  every  Element  pays  a 
ready  Obedience.     Even  fo,  Blcfed  God,  be  thou 
for  ever  worlhiped,  obeyed,  and  glorified  by  thy 
\^hole  Creation.     Amen. 

In  Company  with  thefe,  I  thy  unworthy  Ser- 
vant do  bow  the  neck  of  my  heart  by  Faith,  and 
proftrate  my  felf  before  the  Footltool  of  thy  Ma- 
jefly,  with  humble  gratitude  for  all  thy  mercies, 

but 


MEDITATIONS.  23^ 

but  more  efpecially  for  that  fpiritual  Light  and 
Guidance,  which  thou  haft  been  pleased  to  vouch- 
(life  unto  me.  By  thee,  O  true  Light,  who  light efi 
every  Man  that  cometh  into  the  ijuorld^  I  fee  and  am 
thankful.  I  feel  thy  bright  Beams  defcending  from 
above  into  my  Soul,  cherifhing  and  warming  my 
inward  Parts,  and  making  glad  all  my  Bones  :  Fi- 
niih,   I  befeech  thee,   the  good  Work  already  be- 

fun  in  me.  Increafe  thy  blelTed  Gift,  and  let  the 
rightncfs  of  thy  illuminating  Grace  diffufe  it  felf 
plentifully  through  every  Power  and  Faculty  of  my 
Mind. 

What  glowing  in  myBreaft  is  this  I  feel?  What 
Light ,  that  darts  its  Rays  into  my  Soul  ?  O 
Fire  that  never  art  quenched,  kindle  my  Affec-  . 
tions !  O  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs,  that  never  fetteft, 
never  art  clouded,  ihine  in  my  Heart !  how  fweet 
is  thy  warmth  !  how  fecret  and  pleafant  thy 
cheerful  Light !  O  let  me  -Jlfever  be  inflamed  with 
thy  divine ,  thy  delightful  Beams.  Wretched  are 
they  that  burn  with  impure  Fires  j  wretched,  that 
walk  by  any  other  Light,  and  remain  deftitute  of 
thine :  Wretched  thofe  blind  Eyes,  which  do  not, 
wretched  thofe  dim  Eyes  which  cannot,  wretch- 
ed thofe  wilful  Eyes  which  wink  hard  and  will 
nat  fee  the  Truth.  Wretched  they,  who  do  not 
timi  away  their  Eyes  from  beholding  vanity  >  for 
being  long  habituated  to  darknefs  difables  fuch 
from  bearing  the  brightnefs  of  thy  Light,  or  valu- 
ing as  they  ought,  the  Blelling  of  thy  cheering  in- 
fluences. They  feel,  and  approve,  and  dote  upon 
darknefs  J  and,  finking  every  day  into  groflcr  de- 
grees of  Ignorance,  know  not  upon  what  flippery 
ground  they  ftand,  nor  the  dangerous  Precipices 
into  which  they  are  falling.  O  miferable  wretch- 
es, who  arc  not  fenflblc  of  the  Worth  of 
what  they  lofe  !  And  yet  more  miferable  thoie 
hardned  Souls,  who  arc  fenlible  of  their  Lofs 
ai)d  Ruin  5    but    nevcrthelefs    ftumble    and    fall 

CI.J  with 


1^6 


MEDITATIONS. 


with  eyes  broad  open,   and  go  down  quick  into 
Hell. 

O  heavenly  Luftre  !    which  difcovereft  thy  felf 
only  to  unblcmifh'd  Eyes  and  clean  hearts !    BUJfcd 

Matt.  5.  ?.  are  the  pure  in  hearty  for  they  fiall  fee  God.  Cleanfe 
me  throughly ,  thou  fanftifying  Spirit  5  take  out 
the  beams  and  motes  from  my  Eyes,  that  I  may 
be  qualified  fteadily  to  behold  thy  divine  Beau- 
ties. Command  the  Scales  of  my  old  Errors  to 
fall  off,  which  like  thick  mifls  dance  before  my 
deluded  Sight,   and  pierce  them  through  with  thy 

Pfal.36.9.  refplendent  Beams,  that  in  thy  light  I  may  fee  light. 
Praifed  be  my  God  the  fountain  of  Light  j  for, 
w^hereas  I  was  formerly  blind  now  I  fee  :  Strength- 
en then,  I  befeech  thee,  and  diifufe  this  Grace  yet 

Pfal.  119.  more  plentifully  in  my  Soul.      Open  thou  my  Eyes^ 

iS.  that  I  may  difcern  the  'wondrous  things  of  thy  Law, 

Thanks  for  the  Profpect  I  already  have  of  thy  ftu- 
pendous  Perfc6lions,  which  though  as  yet  but  dif- 
tant,  and  indiiliiK^t,  dark  and  through  a  glafs^  is  yet 
fuch  as  makes  me  vehemently  defire  a  nearer  view, 
and  one  that  may  be  face  to  face.  O !  when  fhall 
that  day  of  Joy  and  Triumph  come,  which  fhall  in- 
troduce me  into  the  fecret  place  of  thy  Dwelling,  the 
conftant  bright  abode  of  thy  Majeflick  Prefence, 
that- 1  may  fatisfy  my  largefl  Wiihes ,  and  find  a 
frefh  andnever-ceafingPleafure  in  flill  defiring  what 
I  enjoy,  and  enjoying  what  I  defire. 


CHAP. 


MEDITATION  S^ 237 


C  H  A  P.     XL 

The  Sour s  earneft  Longings  after  future  /7^-ch  35.35. 

pnefs. 

Like  as  the  Hart  pant  eth  for  the  water-hrooks^  Jo  pral.4i.  i. 
longeth  my  Soul  after  thee^  O  God.  O  Fountain 
of  living  Water,    when   fhall   I   approach   thee, 
when  have  travell'd  through  this  dry,   and  defb- 
late  Wildernefs ,   in  which  there  is  no  way  >    that 
my  Soul  may  be  fatisfied  with   the   plenteoufnefe 
of  thy  Mercy  ?  Behold,  O  Lord,  I  thirft,  thou  art 
the  Well  of  Life  j  O  quench  my  thirft.  Yea,  after 
the  Irolng  God  do  I  thirft^  O  fufFer  me  to  drink  of 
thy  Pleafares ,   and  haften  that  Day  of  Praiie  and 
Thankfgiving  ^  that  day  which  thou^  O  Lord,  haji  ^^^i  ii8, 
made^  that  thy  Servants  may  rejoice  and  he  glad  in  it.  22.. 
O  glorious  Day !    O  everlafting  Morning  !    whofe 
Sun  never  declines,  in  which  1  ihall  hear  that  moft 
tranfporting  Sentence,  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord.  Into  that  Joy,  where  are  things  great  and  un- 
fearchable^  yea^  marvellous  things  without  number.  A  Job  s-9« 
Joy  without   conclufion  ,    without   interruption  , 
without  allay  j    where  we  {hall  meet  with  all  we 
'%an  \vifh ,    and  reft  fecure  from  all  we  can  fear  j 
free  from  the  Enemies  aflaults,  from  the  Tempter's 
reducing  Infmuations  >    full  of  fecurity,  and  reft', 
and  peace,   blefied  with  the  raviftiing  vifton  of  the 
Deity,  for  ever>   fuch  is  the  Joy  of  thy  Lord  thy 
God. 

O  Joy  moft  exquifite,  moft  excellent,  moft  com- 
prehenfive  5  above  which  ,  in  coraparifon  of 
which,  beiide  which,  there  is  no  Joy.  When  ftiall 
I  enter  into  thee,  and  behold  m.y  God  that  dwftl- 
leth  in  thee  ?  What  is  it  that  detains  me  from  liipi 
whom  my  Soul  loveth  ?  How  long  ftiall  it  be  faid 
unto  my  eager  Heart,  Wait,  wait  patiently :    And 

0.4  ^^^^'"^ 


238  MEDITATIONS. 

now  y    O  Lord ,   what  do  I  wifh  and  wait  for  ? 

Fhils- 21.  Surely  it  is  for  thee,  my  Lord  (ind  Saviour  J  efus 
Chrifi^  who  JJoalt  change  our  vile  Body ,  that  it  may 
he  like  unto  thy  glorious  Body,  Surely  it  is  for  rny 
Lord's  coming  to  the  Marriage,  that  he  may  ad- 
mit me  into  the  Bride  Chamber.     Come  quickly. 

Mat.  25.  Lord,  and  do  not  tarry.  Come,  Lord  Jefus,  in, 
and  vifit  us  in  Peace  and  Favour.  Come  and  un- 
lock our  Prifon  doors,  that  thy  relcafed  may  re^ 
joice  before  thee  with  a  perfect  Heart.     Come, 

Pf.  18. 1 9.  thou  dejire  of  all  Nations^  Jhew  the  light  of  thy  coun- 
tenance and  we  Jhall  he  whole.  Come,  my  Light, 
my  Redeemer ,  and  fct  my  Soul  at  liberty ,  that  I 
may  give  Thanks  unto  thy  holy  Name.  How  long 
mull  I  continue  to  be  toiTed  upon  the  Waves  of 
this  mortal  Life,  crying  unto  thee,  O  Lord ,  and 
thou  hearefl  not?  Bow  down  thine  Ear,  I  befeech 
thee,  and  Hilen  when  I  call  out  of  the  deep,  and 
|)ring  me  to  the  Haven  of  everlafting  Blifs. 

O  happy  Souls,  who  are  delivered  from  the  pe- 
rils of  this  Sea,  and  got  fafe  to  fhorej  who  have 
reach'd  their  native  Country,  and  exchang'd  their 
.  Prifon  for  a  Palace  !  Happy  thofe  Combatants, 
who  have  receivM  that  Crown  of  Glory,  which 
they  endur'd  the  fight  of  various  Afflidions  to  ob*- 
tain,  and  are  now  tranflated  from  ihort  Tribulations 
to  endlefs  Triumphs !  Happy  beyond  all  expreffion, 
who  have  put  oft*  their  load  of  frailty  and  fuffering, 
V/ho  are  in  quiet  pofTeflion  of  the  Glory  which  fad- 
eth  not  away,  and  cloathed  with  Majefty  and 
Honour !  O  bleffed  State,  O  Kingdom  everlafting, 
where  the  Souls  of  the  Saints  are  in  Peace  and  FeH- 

|fa,25.iQ.  city,  where  eternal  rejoicing  is  upon  every  head^  and 
forrow  and  ftghing  flee  away.  Where  the  Saints  reign 

j'f.iQ4. 1.  with  chee  their  belov'd  Lord,  and  deck  themfelves 
with  light  as  with  a  garment.  O  Kingdom  ever 
f)lef]ed,  in  which  thou^  Lord,  the  Hope  and  Crown 

Pfal.  %i.    of  all  thy  faithful  Servants,   makeft  them  glad  with 

^}\         the  joy  of  thy  cjuntenance^  and  thatj^eace  whi:h  fajfeth 


MEDITATIONS.  239 


all  under  ft  anding.  Their  joy  knows  no  bounds, 
their  mirth  no  tbrrow,  their  health  no  pain ,  their 
light  no  intervals  of  darknefs,  their  hie  hath  no 
death,  their  happinefs  is  univerfal,  without  the 
leall  mixture  of  evil  :  Their  Youth  is  ever  frefh 
and  gay,  their  Beauty  always  blooming,  their  Love 
ever  fervent,  their  Pleafures  have  no  abatement. 
For  thou,  O  God,  art  their  all  in  all,  their  fole, 
their  chief,  their  perfe61:  Good. 

But  the  more  we  admire  the  happinefs  of  them 
who  are  exalted  to  this  fecure  and  blifsful  State  al- 
ready, the  greater  caufe  have  we  to  bewail  our 
own  Mifery,  who  are  ftill  expos'd  to  all  the  Storms 
and  Shipwrack  of  a  tempeftuous  and  troubled  Sea : 
For  we,  alas!  can  only  hope  the  befl^  but  are 
not  fure  that  we  fhall  ever  make  the  Port  of  ever- 
lafting  Life  and  Salvation.  For  our  Life  is  a  ikte 
of  Exile  and  Captivity,  our  End  unknown,  our 
Fate  wrapped  up  in  clouds  of  a  dark  futurity. 
We  he  at  the  mercy  of  Winds  and  Waves,  and  caft 
many  a  weary  and  longing  look ,  to  the  Land  of 
our  Hope  and  Reft.  But,  O  thou  ftay  of  our  Souls, 
our  Refuge  and  Strength ,  whofe  Light,  like  the 
Saylor's  Star,  fhines  through  the  thick  Clouds  that 
hang  over  our  Heads  \  fteer,  we  befeech  thee,  this 
floating  Vellel  with  the  helm  of  thy  Crofs ,  left 
the  deep  fwallow  us  up.  Draw  us  out  of  thefe^ 
Surges  to  thy  felf  our  only  comfort ,  whom  now 
our  weeping  Eyes  can  but  juft  difcern,  ftanding  a? 
far  off,  like  the  dawn  of  the  Morning  Star,  to  con^ 
dudt  and  receive  us  to  the  wifhM-for  Regions  of 
Light :  We  are  thy  redeemed ,  and  as  fuch  cry 
unto  thee  5  Captives  indeed  at  prefent ,  but  fuch 
jis  thou  haft  ranfomed  with  thy  moft  precious 
Blood.  Hear  us^  O  God  of  our  Sahvation^  thou  that  pral.65.  r. 
firt  the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  Earthy  and  of  them 
that  remain  in  the  broad  Sea,  Thou  ftandeft  upon 
the  fhore,  and  feeft  our  Dangers,  and  how  ourVef- 
fcl  works  in  tl^e  gtoi^m )  Q  faye  iis  for  thy  Names 

fike^ 


Z40  MEDITATIONS. 

fake  and  fo  direct  our  courfe,  that  we  may  happi- 
ly decline  thofe  Rocks  on  every  fide,  which  if  we 
Itrike  upon  we  are  dafh'd  to  pieces.  Thou  know- 
ell:  the  value  of  our  Cargo,  and  the  difficulties  of 
the  Voyage.  Save,  Matter,  or  we  periih. 
Ch.  36.  This  is  our  didrefled  Condition  at  prefent,  but 
when  thou  haft  brought  us  home  to  thy  felf,  the 
Fountain  of  Wifdom  and  Father  of  Lights  j  fuch 
complaints  and  all  occafion  for  them  fhall  ceafe. 
Then  in  thy  light  fliall  we  fee  light  5  not  fuch  as 
our  corporeal  Eyes  are  now  blefs'd  with,  but  Light 
unbodied,  incorruptible,  unquenchable,  uncreated, 
the  inacceffible ,  the  true  ,  the  divine  Light  j 
that  which  enlightens  Angels,  and  is  the  privilege 
and  joy  of  Saints,  even  the  Source  of  Light  and 
Life,  even  thee,  my  Lord  and  my  God.  For 
I  Cor.  I3.^-J^Q^  ^y^  the  Light,  in  whofe  ligbf  ive  fiall  fee  ligbf, 
^^'  that  is,   behold  thee  and  in  thy  felf,   and  Face  to 

Face.  Which  what  elfe  can  it  import,  but,  as  thy 
bleffed  Apoflle  hath  very  jultly  explained  it,  kno'ou- 
ing  as  we  are  kno'wn  j  being  let  into  a  diltin6t  view 
and  knowledge  of  thy  Truth  and  Glory  ?  So  that 
toy^^  thy  face  is  in  effe6t  to  know  the  Power  of  the 
Father,  the  Wifdom  of  the  Son,  the  Clemency  and 
Goodnefs  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  the  mylterious 
adorable  Union  of  all  Three  in  one  undivided  Eflence. 
And  thus  to  fee  the  living  God,  is  the  moft  exalted 
Happinefs,  the  Honour  and  Reward  of  blefled  Spi- 
rits, the  Crown  of  Glory  and  eternal  Blifs,  the 
Beauty  of  Peace,  the  Paradife  of  God ,  the  Hea- 
venly Jcrtifakm^  and  that  fulnefs  of  Joy  which  no 
finite  Mind  can  comprehend.  For  this  is  the  ut- 
molt  bleflednefs  of  glorified  Man,  to  fee  him  who 
made  Heaven  and  Earth,  the  infinitely  good  Be- 
ing, which  created,  and  i?,Ytdi ,  and  brought  him 
to  Blifs  and  Glory  with  himielf  This  fight  confiits 
in  a  clear  knowledge  of  him  in  loving  and  admir- 
ing, in  prailing  and  poilefling  him.  For  he  is 
the  Liheritance  of  his  People ,   even  of  the  Spirits 

v/hom 


MEDITATIONS^  241 

whom  he  hath  purchafed  of  old.     He  is  their  Por- 
tion, and  the  Recompence  of  their  hopes  and  holy- 
labours.     I  am  thy  exceeding  great  reward^    was  his 
Declaration  andPromife  x.o  Abraham^  and  a  Promife  Gen.  15.1. 
it  was  every  way  worthy  the  divine  Maker.     For 
great  and  noble  things  fuit  the  Charafter  of  great 
and  noble  Perfons.     Thou  indeed,  my  God,    art 
exalted   far  above   all  Gods ,    and  thy  reward  is 
proportionably  high.     For  thou  art  not  great  and 
thy  reward  little  >  but  as  thou  art,  fo  is  that,  great  > 
for  thou  art  not  one  thing  and  thy  reward  another, 
but  both  the  fame  ,    and  both   exceeding   great. 
Thou  art  the  bellower   of  the  Crown,    and  the 
Crown  it  felf  ^    the  maker  of  the  Promife  and  the  . 
matter  of  the  Promife  >    the  giver  and  the  Gift  ,__ 
the  Diadem   of  hope   bedeckt   with  Gloiy^    the    • 
Defire  and  the  Joy  of  thy  Holy  ones.     The  fight 
of  thee  is  therefore  all  that  Blifs  and  Recompence 
we  can  pofTibly  hope  for.     This  is  eternal  life^  this 
thy  own  Wifdom,   to  know  thee  the  only  true  G^/,  John  17.3 - 
andjefus  Chriji  whom  thou  haft  fent.  When  there- 
fore we  fhall  fee  thee,   the  only,  the  true,   the  liv- 
ing,  the  almighty,   infinite  and   incomprehenfible 
Father  J   and  thy  only  begotten,  confab ftantial  and 
coeternal  Son,   whom  thou  fentcft  into  the  World 
for   our  Salvation,    by   the  Power   of  the  Holy 
Ghofl:3  when  we  ihall  fee  thofe  Three  Perfons  in 
the  Unity  of  that  Spirit  One  only  divine  EfTencc, 
befides  whom  there  is  no  God  ;    then  fhall  we  ac- 
tually pofTefs  what  we  now  foUicitoufly  labour  af- 
ter :    Even  that  evcrlafting  Life  and  Glory,  vvhich 
thou  hall  prepared  for  them  that  love  thee,    kid 
up  for  them  that  fear  thee>   and  the  Portion  of 
them  that  feek  thy  Face  continually. 

And  thou,  O  Lord  my  God,  Avho  hafl  formed 
me  and  prcferved  me  from  my  Mother's  Womb, 
futfer  me  not,  1  befeech  thee,  to  be  diverted  from 
this  one,  and  diflraclcd  in  the  purfait  of  many. 
Objects ',  but  call  in  my  wandering  thoughts  fcatter- 

ed 


24^     MEDITATIONS. 

cd  upon  things  without,  and  let  me  fland  colle6t- 
cd  in  my  felf,  and  from  my  felf,  rife  up  and  fix  on 
thee  alone  >  that  my  Heart  may  always  be  in  a 
condition  of  faying  with  thy  devout  Pfilmift,  "Thou 
haft  faid  feek  ye  my  face  ^  thy  fac?^  Lord^  will  I  feck: 
Even  the  Face  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts,  in  the  vifion 
whereof  the  everlafting  Life  and  Glory  of  blefled 
Spirits  in  Heaven  confifls.  Let  my  Heart  there- 
fore rejoice,  that  it  may  fear  thy  Name.  Yea, 
Pfal.  10  S' let  the  heart  of  them  rejoice  that  fee k  the  Lord.  But 
4*  if  the  heart  of  them  who  feek  him  only  be  affect- 

ed with  fo  fenfible  a  joy,  how  ravilhing  and  intenfe 
niuft  theirs  needs  be,  who  do  not  only  feek  but 
find  him  ?  I  will  therefore  feek  thy  Face  conilant-^ 
Pfal.  iiS.iy^  zealoufly,  incefTantly,  that  fo  at  length  the  Gate 
%9*  2.C.  of  Right eoufnefs  may  he  open'd^  and  I  rnay  go  into 
the  Joy  of  my  Lord,  ihis  is  the  gate  of  the  Lordy 
the  righteous  fhall  enter  into  it. 


CHAP.    XVIL 

Ch,  37.        A  concluding  Trajer  to  the  Holy  Trinity, 

OHoly,  blefled,  and  glorious  Three,  coeternal 
and^  coequal  Perfons  and  One  true  God  > 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoilj  thou  that  alone 
inhabiteft  Eternity,  and  that  Light  to  which  no 
Mortal  can  approach  -,  that  hall  founded  the  Earth 
by  thy  Power,  and  rulell  all  the  Kingdoms  of  it 
by  thy  Wifdom  5  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  of 
Sabaoth!  Strong  and  terrible,  merciful  and  jufl, 
worthy  to  be  praifed,  admired  and  loved  above 
all  things,  by  every  Creature  capable  of  paying  thee 
this  Tribute  i  Power,  Wifdom  and  Goodnefs,  One 
undivided  Trinity,  look  down  with  Pity,  and  give 
car  to  the  calling  of  thy  poor  Servant,  who  humbly 
begs  adinifSon  into  the  gates  of  Rightcoufnefs,  thap 

he 


MEDITATIONS.  243 

he  may  render  due  thanks  to  thy  glorious  Name. 
Behold)  Great  Mafter  of  the  houfe,  a  needy 
beggar  knocking  at  the  door  of  thy  mercy  y  O  let 
him  by  his  own  experience  prove  the  truth  of  that 
gracious  promife.  Knock  and  it  jJoall  he  opened  unto  Matt,  7.7,' 
you.  For  what  is  knocking,  if  the  inward  groans, 
the  foundings  of  my  Bowels,  the  vehement  defires, 
the  doleful  lamentations,  and  moving  tears,  and  im- 
portunate cries,  with  which  my  heart  now  feeks 
thee,  do  not  deferve  that  name  ?  Nor  can  any  of 
thefe  mod:  inward  griefs  be  loft  upon  an  All-feeing 
God  i  For  thou  obferveft  my  moft  fecret  thoughts, 
and  my  heavinefs  is  not  hid  from  thee.  I'urn  not  Pfal.  27." 
then  thy  face  any  longer  from  me^  nor  caft  away  thy 
Servant  in  difpleafure.  Hear,  O  Father  of  Mercies, 
hear  the  loud  Complaints  of  thy  defolate  Child,  and 
ftretch  out  thy  right  hand  to  help  me.  Draw  me 
out  of  the  mire  ot  mifery  and  corruption,  and  fave 
me  from  the  deep  waters,  the  overflowings  of  un- 
godlinefs,  that  I  fink  not>  My  danger  and  my 
calamity  thou  canft  not  but  fee,  and  fhall  I  be  fut- 
fered  to  pcrifh,  while  Mercy  it  felf  looks  on  .^  Call 
up  thy  bowels,  thy  tender  and  unfpeakable  affedi- 
on,  of  which  I  have  already  had  fo  many  inftances  r 
let  thefe  commiferate  my  prefent  diftrefs,  and 
work  out  for  me  a  mighty  deliverance :  that  I  may 
be  conducted  fafe^  to  thee,  my  God,  and  fee  the 
riches  of  thy  kingdom,  and  the  beauties  of  thy 
glorious  Prefence  j  and  fing  praifes  incefTantly  to 
thy  Name,  O  Lord^  "who  do  ft  wondrous  things.  ThouPfa!.  72*' 
vefrefheft  my  Soul  with  glad  remembrances  of  thy  ^^^ 
Goodnefs ;  and  haft  enlightened  my  younger  years 
with  the  brightneis  of  thy  Truth  5  forfake  me  not,  Pfal.  -jx: 
I  befeech  thee,  in  my  old  age  and  gray  hairs,  but  ^^3-  S* 
make  my  feeble  Body  to  rejoice,  and  renew  my 
Youth  as  the  Eagles,  and  in  thy  due  time  command 
thefe  dry  bones  to  live  again  by  a  blcfted  refurreiti- 
€>n  to  immortal  Life  and  Glory. 

St. 


/'_£±__!±^ 


0  JtLOu  that    jzearcst  Prayer,  untcincs  -Snait  all 
Ttaa  Ccrm  .  PS.  Oj-.  V,jt  . 


^4) 


St.    AUGUSTlNEs 

MANUAL. 


Book   IV, 


The    PREFACE. 

THE  multimde  and  vail  variety  of  en{la%-ing 
obieas  with  which  in  this  iiie  we  aie 
every  where  befet,  divert  our  thoughts 
and  cool  our  love  of  Heaven.  It  is  therefore  ne- 
cefTarv  to  fortify  and  rouTe  our  felves,  that  we  may 
wake  out  of  our  deluding  dream  >  and  when  we 
feci  our  Souls  rove  and  fall  off,  we  may  be  able  to 
bring  them  back  fpeedily,  to  God  our  true  and 
chief  Good.  This  conS deration,  and  my  fervent 
love  of  my  God,  not  any  raili  prelumptuous  con- 
ceit of  mv  own  .Abilities,  put  me  upon  compiling 
this  little  Book  5  that  fo  I  might  have  fome  pious 
refic<5tions  alwavs  about  me  >  colled:ed  from  the 
choicell  iavingsof  Holy  Fathers  5  the  fen-eni  read- 
ing whereof  may  warm  me  afrcili  with  di\-ine  Love, 
whene\-er  I  ihsil  feel  that  holy  fire  begin  to  lan- 
guilli  in  my  heart.  AiLll  me  therefbre,  O  my  God, 
in  this  well  intended  imderrakingj  For  thee,  even 
thee,  I  feek,  and  love,  and  praiie,  and  adore,  with 
hGirr,  and  mouth,  and  e\*ery  faculty  I  have 

X  My 


2^6  MEDITATIONS. 


My  Mind  intirely  dedicates  it  felf  to  thee,  gafps 
and  pants  after  thee,  and  covets  no  other  Blifs  than 
the  fight  of  her  beloved  5  taites  no  other  pleafure, 
but  that  which  refiilts  fi'om  fpeaking,  hearing, 
writing,  conferring,  and  perpetually  dwelling  upon 
the  Meditation  of  thee  and  thy  gloiy:  expeding 
from  thefe  fweet  remembrances,  fome  refrefliment 
and  inward  calm,  in  the  midft  of  a  tempeftuous 
World.  To  thee  therefore,  O  Joy  and  Defirc  of 
my  heart,  I  cry  aloud,  and  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  I  call  within,  bccaufe  I  know  thee  there  5  j 
for  wert  not  thou  in  me,  I  fhould  not  be  at  all ; 
and  were  not  I  in  thee,  thou  wouldft  not  be  in 
me.  But  thou  art  in  me,  whenever  in  my  memo- 
ry >  from  thence  I  know  thee,  and  there  I  find 
thee,  when  I  call  to  mind,  and  delight  my  felf  in 
recounting  thy  glorious  pcrfedions,  from,  and  by^ 
^.  and  in  whom  all  things  fubfift. 


•<*f 


CHAP.    I. 

Tloe  Excellencies  of  the  divine  EJfenc'e. 

Ifa.  6.  3.TTEavenand  Earth,  O  Lord,  are  full  of  xht 
Heb.  1.3.JLX  Majefty  of  thy  glory  :  Thou  fuftaineft  all 
things,  and  yet  feelefl  no  burden^  fillcft  all,  and 
John  5. 7 -art  circumfcribed  by  none.  Always  in  a6tion,  and 
yet  always  in  reft,  (eeking  and  gathereft,  but  want- 
Exod.  lo.eft  not  J  lovefl  without  pafiion,  art  jealous  with- 
5-  out  pain  J    repentcft  without  remorfe,    art  angry 

18*7  '^'without  commotion  J  altereft  thy  meafures,  but 
not  thy  mind  J  recovereft  what  thou  hadft  never 
loft,  rejoicing  in  gain,  and  yet  never  poor,  ex- 
pecting thy  own  with  ufury,  and  yet  never  cove- 
Luke  i5.tousj  bountiful,  and  paying  tothem^  to  whom  thou 
art  not  indebted,  and  placing  thofe  good  aftions 

to 


MEDITATION  S;  147 

to  account,  which  are  thy  due,  that  by  a  marvel- pfal.  79.5. 
lous  condefcenfion,  thou  mayeft  become  thy  faithr*Matt.  zj. 
£ii\  Servants  debtor.  ^7- 

•For  who  hath  any  thing  \idiich  is  not  thine  ?  i  Cor.  4.7, 
Thou  payefb  andoweft  not.   Thou  remittefl:  thy 
diies  and  lofeil  nothing.     Thou  art  in  every  place,  Prov.  15^ 
and  in  each  intirej    Thou  art  to  be  perceived,  but3>  ^9* 
not  with  Eyes  .of  flefh  5  Abfent  from  none,  yet  far 
fj-pm  the  imaginations  of  the  ungodly  -,  but  ftill  not 
abfent  even  from  them  -,  for  where  thou  art  not  by 
thv  grace,  thou  art  prefent  by  thy  Obfervation  and 
.Vengeance.     We  follow  thee,  and  yet  thou  remo- 
vefl  not,   and  what  we  purfue  we  are  not  able  to 
attain:    For  thou  pofleffell,  fiUeft,  comprehendeft 
and  fuilaineft  all  things  by  thy  wonderful  prefence 
and  power. 

Thou  teachefl  the  hearts  of  the  faithful,  with^rra.54.i3;- 
out  the  help  of  articulate  Sounds  >    art  not  extend- Job  33. 
ed  with  fpace,   nor  changed  by  time,   nor  nearer  ^4.i5>i^' 
or   more   diftant   by  motion  5    but  inhabitefl:  the 
Light,  to  which  no  mortal  can  approach,  which i  Tim.6\: 
none  hath  feen  or  can  fee.      Always  at  reft  in  thyi*^- 
felf,  and  yet  travelling  through  the  Univerfe,  and 
each  part  of  it.     For  Thou  art  fo  entirely  One, 
•as   not   to   be   divided  5    but  art  every  where  all 
•in  all.  '  • 


CHAP.    II. 

The  inexprejjlble  Terfe6iion  of  the  "Divine 
Knowledge. 

T Hough  the  whole  world  were  filled  with  Vo« 
lumes  on  that  fubje6t,  yet  could  they  not  all 
declare  the  excellence  ot  thy  immenfe  Knowledge  > 
for  this  is  above  the  power  of  Pens  or  Tongues 
to  exprefs,  or  finite  minds  to  comprehend.  Thou 
art  the   fource  of   Divine  Light,    tranfcendently 

R.  gre^l 


148 


MEDITATIONS. 


great  and  good,  and  therefore  exceeding  all  quan- 
tity and  quality.  With  thee  to  will  is  to  do,  and 
to  intend  is  to  be  able  to  perform.  By  the  Al- 
mighty efficacy  of  this  will  alone,  it  was  that  thou 
madeft  all  things  out  of  nothing  j  and  every  thing 
thus  made,  thou  pofTefleft  without  need,  governeft 
without  trouble,  difpofeft  without  reiiftance  or  in- 
terruption. For  neither  in  Heaven  above,  nor  in 
Earth  nor  Hell  beneath,  is  there  any  thing  that  can 
difturb  the  peaceful  order  of  thy  adminift ration. 

And  yet  thou  art  not  the  Author  of  any  Evil  >  || 
for  the  doing  this  is  what  thy  Omnipotence  ex- 
tends not  to,   which  can  do  all  things  good  and 
great  >    and   therefore   thou  who   canft   do  every 
thing,    canfl;  yet   do  nothing  to  be  repented  of 
4"  Thy  Goodnefs  gave  us  being,   thy  Juftice  punifhes 
our  mifdeeds,  thy  Mercy  fpares  us  from  the  puniih- 
ments  we  delerve.     When  we  fay  that  all  things 
are  full  of  thy  power  and  prefence,   our  meaning 
is  not,  that  they  contain  thee,  but  are  contained 
in  thee  5   not  that  thou  fiUeil  them  by  parts  and 
meafure,  fo  that  each  axature  fhould  receive  fuch 
proportions  of  thee  as  it  is  capable  of,  fome  more, 
fome  lefs  •,    but  thou  art  entire  in  each  of  them, 
and   every  one  of   them  entirely   in  thee.     For 
all  things  are  within  the  compafs  and  governance 
of  thy  power  >   and  whoever  hath  not  the  comfor- 
table prefence  of  this  goodnefs  and  favour,    hath 
the  terror  of  thy  angry  Juftice  ever  prefent  with 
him. 


CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS.  249 

CHAP.    III. 

The  Thirft  of  the  Soul  after  God^ 

BU  T  as  for  me,  my  deareft  Lord,  let  the  for* 
mcr  of  thcfe,    I  befeech  thee,  be  my  porti^ 
on  J    Come  in  much  mercy  down  into  my  Soul, 
and  take  pofleflion  and  dwell   there.      A  homely 
manfion,  I  confels,  for  fo  glorious  a  Majefty,  but 
fuch  as  thou  art  fitting  up  for  the  Reception  of 
thee,  by  holy  and  fervent  Defires  of  thy  own  in- 
fpiring.     Enter  _then,  and^adojn,  and  make  it  fuch 
as  thou  wilt  not  difdain  to  inhabit,  fince  it  is  dou- 
bly the  work  of  thy  hands  •,    firft  by  a  natural,  to 
life,   and  fince  by  a  fpiritual  and  better  Creation, 
to  righteoufnefs  and  true  hoHnefs  :    let   me  wear 
thee  upon  my  heart  as  a  fignet,   and  let  nothing 
ever  deface  the  Impreflion.     Forfake  not,  I  befeech 
thee,   thy  fervant  that  calleth  upon  thee  >  for  be- 
fore I  called  thou  preventedft  my  defires  >   and  that 
I  call  or  feek  thee^  is  from  that  grace  which  firft 
of  all  fought  and  called  me :    And  why  was  thisj 
but  that  fo  fought  I  might  feek  thee  again,  and  fo 
feek  as  to  find  thee^  and  fo  find  as  unfeignedly  to 
love  and  delight  in  thee?    Love,   I  have  fought, 
Lo  I  have  found  my  God,  Lo  I  defire  to  love  thee  : 
O  increafe  my  dehre,    O  grant  that  requeft,  and 
give  me  thy  own  felf,  without  which  tho'  thou 
fhouldeft  give  me  all  that  ever  thoif  haft  made,  yet 
could  not  my  defires  be  fatisfied.     Give  then  thy 
own  felf  to  thy  own  Servant,   for  thy  fervant  lov-^   ^ 
cth  thee  j  and  if  he  love  thee  yet  too  little,  endea- 
vour to  fupply  that  defeat,   by  wiftiing  above  all 
things  to  love  thee  every  day  more  and  more.  Thou 
haft  my  whole  heart,   I  know  no  rival  paflion^  I 
burn  with  no  other  defire,  I  delight  in  the  remem« 
brance  of  no  other  Objeft, 

R  %  The 


ijo  MEDITATIONS. 


The  power  of  this  afFc6lion  is  fo  fenfiblc,  that 
while  my  mind  is  foaring  up  to  thee,  it  finds  it 
felf  in  fome  degree  releafed  from  this  clog  of  Flefh 
that  hangs  about  it.  A  peaceable  calm  compofes 
all  my  thoughts,  the  load  of  mortality  and  mifery 
grows  hghter,  and  all  the  tumult  of  worldly  cares 
and  troubles  are  hufh'd  in  lilence  and  profound  tran- 
quillity. I  feci  my  heart  glow,  my  m.ind  ravifhed 
with  extalies  of  pleafure,  my  memory  grows  vigo- 
rous and  ftrong,  my  intellc6lual  powers  more  clear 
and  bright,  and  my  whole  Soul  inflamed  with  eager 
love  and  earneft  longings  for  invilible  Joys.  O  that 
I  had  v/ings  like  an  Eagle,  that  my  towring  flight 
might  never  faulter,  never  refl  till  I  had  mounted  up 
to  tlie  glories  of  thy  heavenly  habitation,  and  were 
filled  with  the  pleafures  of  thy  beauteous  prefence, 
and  tafle  the  fv/cets,  and  feaft  upon  the  rich  dain- 
ties which  the  Citizens  of  the  heavenly  Jerufalem 
perpetually  feed  upon.  Thou  art  our  Hope,  our 
Salvation  and  Redemption,  and  exceeding  great 
Reward.  Be  thou  alfo  our  glory  and  our  joy.  Let 
my  Soul  ever  feek  thee,  and  let  me  perfill  in  feek- 
ing,  till  I  have  found,  and  am  in  full  poflcilion  of 
thee. 


CHAP.     IV. 

The  Mifery  of  them  ijjho  do  rM  feek  and  love 

God, 

FOR  wretched  is  that  Soul,  whofe  endeavours 
and  defires  are  fixed  on  any  other  Objcd,  by 
a  third  ahvays  tormenting,  but  never  refrefhcd, 
never  fatisfied.  The  end  of  living  is  loft  to  them 
who  love  not  God  \  and  he  who  defircs  life  for 
the  (like  of  any  thing  befidcs,  is  nothing,  and  aims 
at  vanity  and  nothing.  He  who  will  not  live  to 
■Thee,  He  that  is  wife  for  any  other  purpofe,  is 
no  better  than  a  fool.  To  thee  therefore,  graci- 
ous 


MEDITATIONS.  251 

Oils  Lord,  I  commit,  bequeath,  devote  my  fclf, 
from  whom  alone  my  whole  being,  and  life,  and 
knowledge  is  derived  5  in  thee  is  all  my  tniil  and 
confidence,  from  whom  I  expe6i:  my  fecond  and 
better  life.  I  defire,  and  love,  and  worfhip  thee, 
with  whom  I  hope  to  dwxll  and  reign,  and  be 
happy  to  all  eternity.  The  Soul  which  fceks^  and 
loves  not  Thee,  dotes  on  the  World,  and  is  a 
Slave  to  Sin  3  always  in  bondage,  never  at  cafe, 
never  fecure.  Let  my  Soul,  gracious  Lord, .  be 
ever  imployed  in  thy  fervice,  my  prefent  fojour- 
xiing  tend  ever  to  Thee,  and  my  heart  be  ever 
inflamed  with  the  defire  and  love  of  Thee  alone. 
Let  this  be  my  Rell,  and  the  Contemplation  of 
it  my  Joy  and  Comfort  in  the  Days  of  my  Pilgri- 
mage. Let  me  be  ilieltred  under  the  fliadow  of 
thy  Wings  from  the  Storms  of  anxious  and  world- 
ly Cares  >  and  when  the  Winds  blow  and  the 
W  aves  fwell,  let  this  be  my  Harbour  and  foft  re- 
pofe.  O  God,  rich  in  goodnefs,  and  the  boun- 
tiful giver  of  heavenly  Delights,  fuftain  my  faint- 
ings,  relieve  my  hunger  ,  break  the  bonds  of 
my  Captivity,  heal  my  wounds,  and  repair  my 
breaches.  Behold  I  iland  at  the  door  and  knock, 
let  that  tender  Mercy,  which  from  on  high  hath 
vifited  us,  command  the  door  to  be  opened,  that 
I  may  go  in  to  thee ,  and  refl:  in  thee,  and  be 
refrcihed  abundantly  with  thy  heavenly  fullenance. 
For  thou  art  the  Bread  and  the  Fountain  of  Life  s 
thou  art  the  brigbtncfs  of  everlalling  Lights  thou 
art  every  thing  by  which  thofe  pious  Spirits  are 
fupported  and  comforted,  who  love  and  live  to 
thee. 


R  5  CHAP. 


iji  MEDITATIONS. 


C  H  A  P.    V. 

A  Trayer  for  grace  to  love  God  above  all  things. 

OGod,  the  light  of  every  Heart  that  fees  thee, 
the  life  of  every  Soul  that  loves  thee,    the 
flrength  of  every  Mind  that  feeks  thee ,    grant  me 
ever  to  continue  ftedfafl  in  thy  holy  Love.     Pour 
thy  felf  into  my  Heart,  and  let  it  overflow,  and  be 
fo  intirely  filled  with  thy  Pleafures,   that  there  may 
be  no  room  left  for  the  trifling  vanities  here  below. 
I  am  aiham'd  and  tir'd  of  living  after  the  way  of 
the  World  j  the  very  fight  and  hearing  of  tranfitory 
Objefts  is  troublefome :  Help  me,  my  God,  againft 
the  Infinuations  of  fuch,   and  be  thou  the  joy  of 
my  Heart :  Take  it  all  to  thy  felf,  and  keep  thy  con- 
tinual refidence  there.The  Houfe,I  confefs,  is  ilreightj 
do  thou  enlarge  it.  Ruinous,  but  do  thou  repair  it  j 
full  of  Pollutions  which   might  be  a  nuifance   to 
Eyes  fo  pure  >  I  know,  and  with  grief  confefs  it  : 
But  whole  help  fhall  I  implore  in  clcanfing  it,   ex- 
cept thine  alone  ?   To  thee  therefore  I  cry  inilant- 
ly,  begging  that  thou  wilt  purge  me  from  my  fecret 
faults^  and  efpecially  keep  thy  fervant  from  prefump-- 
tuous  fins^  that  they  never  get  the  dominion  over  me. 

Enable  me,  fweet  Jefus,  I  befeech  thee,  to  lay 
afide  the  weight  of  flellily  Lulls,  and  exchange  my 
worldly  Defires  and  Affe61:ions  for  thofe  of  thee 
and  Heaven.  Let  my  Body  be  in  conftant  fubje^li- 
on  to  my  Soul,  my  Senfes  to  Reafon,  and  myRea- 
fon  to  thy  Grace  5  that  fo  both  the  outward  and 
inward  Man  may  be  ever  obedient ,  and  difpofed 
to  do  thy  will.  Fill  my  Heart,  my  Mouth,  and  all 
my  Bones  with  thy  Praife.  Enlighten  my  Under- 
ftanding,  and  exalt  my  Affe6tions,  that  I  may  foar 
upwards  to  thee  5  ana  fet  me  free  from  thofe  Fet- 
ters which  faften  me  down,  and  are  an  incum- 
brance 


MEDITATIONS. 


^n 


brance  to  me,  that  I  may  leave  all  here  below,  and 
ferve,  and  fix,  and  dwell  upon  thee  alone. 


CHAP.    VI. 

The  Happinefs  of  Souls  delivered  from  their 
earthly  Trifons, 

AN  D  happy  fure  beyond  Imagination  is  that 
bleft  Soul^  which  making  its  efcape  out  of 
this  earthly  Prifon  wings  its  way  to  Heaven  with- 
out any  reftraint  5  which  fees  its  deareft  Lord  fiice 
to  face,  and  no  longer  enflav'd  to  the  fear  of  death, 
triumphs  in  the  enjoyments  of  everlafting  Glory. 
Pollelling  thee  the  objedt  of  its  love  and  long  pur- 
fuit,  and  Imging  Hymns  of  never-ceafing  Praife  to 
the  Honour  of  her  King  and  Redeemer  3  fatiated 
with  the  Plenteoufnefs  of  thy  Houfe,  and  drunk 
with  the  Rivers  of  thy  overflowing  Pleafures.  O 
happy  Company  of  heavenly  Citizens !  O  glorious 
Pomp  of  Souls  returning  from  their  toilfome  pil- 
grimage to  the  excellence  of  theJBeauty,  and  Splen- 
dor and  Majefty  of  thy  Courts !  O  the  ravifhing 
Entertainment  of  thofe  harmonious  Hymns ,  the 
Melody  of  Angels ,  and  fweet  Notes  of  Songs  in 
Confort,  of  which  every  Member  of  the  heavenly 
Choir  bears  his  part !  No  mixture  of  bitter  pollutes 
thofe  holy  Joys,  no  malice  or  wickednefs,  no  want 
or  difgrace,  no  railing  or  reviling,  or  angry  dif- 
putes,  no  fear  or  difquiet,  no  doubt  or  uneafineS, 
or  mutual  diftruft  j  nor  force  or  difcord  >  but  per- 
fe<5t  peace  and  love,  eternal  praife  and  thankfgiv- 
ing,  uninterrupted  reft,  and  joy  everlafting  in  the 
Holy  Ghoft.  My  God,  how  happy  fhould  I  be  to 
hear  that  tranfporting  Mufick,  and  thofe  divine 
Compofitions,  which  publifti  the  Myfteries  and  Glo- 
ries of  the  blefled  Trinity  j   my  God,  how  mwch 

R-  4  .  hap- 


254  MEDITATIONS. 


happier  and  more  honour'd ,   if  admitted  not  only 
to  hear,   but  my  felf  to  join  in  contort  with  thofe 
Sons  of  God,   who  fing  to  their  Chriil  and  King 
t)nc  of  the  pleafant  Songs  of  Sion. 
Ch.  7.  O  Life,  truly  worthy  that  Name  j  becaufe  ever- 

lafling,  ever  blefTed.  A  Life  of  Joy  unpolluted 
iwith  Sufferings  or  Sorrow,  Reft  without  Labour 
or  Diflurbance  -,  Honour  without  Fear  or  Envy  y 
Riches  without  Robbery  or  Lofs^  Health  without 
Decay,  Plenty  without  Lack,  Happinefs  without 
Difaflers.  Where  all  good  things  are  enjoyed  in 
perfeft  Charity.  Where  God  is  feen  face  to  face, 
knd  the  Mind  is  feafted  and  fully  fatisfied  with 
knowledge,  ever  feeing  and  ever  defiring  to  fee 
more,  but  defiring  without  uncafinefs,  and  fatis- 
fied fo  as  never  to  be  cloyed.  Where  the  Sun  of 
Righteoufnefs  fheds  the  refrefhing  Beams  of  his  ex- 
cellent Beauty  upon  every  Head>  and  the  origi- 
nal Light  is  fo  diifufed,  that  every  Inhabitant  of 
thofe  blifsful  Regions  fhines  by  the  Reflection  ; 
For  being  conftantly  united  to  the  Deity,  they 
are  transformed  into  the  likenefs  of  the  Divine 
Immortality  and  Perfe6l:ions  3  thus  receiving  the 
John  17.  full  efic61:  of  their  holy  Lord's  Promife,  Father^  I 
^i,  24.     ^^m  fjj^f  fj^^y  c^fQQyyi  fjjQi^  jj^ji  gic^Qyi,  yfjc  he  with'  me 

where  I  am^  that  they  may  behold  the  ^.ory  which  thou 
haft  gi'uen  me^  and  all  he  one  ifi  tis^  as  thou^  Father^  art 
in  me^  and  I  in  thee^  that  they  alfo  may  he  one  in  us. 
Ch,  8.  O  glorious  Kingdom,  to  the  Inheritance  where- 

of we  are  advanced,  without  the  melancholy  forms 
of  Death  and  Succefiion,  and  whofe  Pofiefiion 
knows  no  change  or  end  ^  but  one  perpetual 
Day,  fubje£l:  to  no  Revolution  of  time  >  and  never 
fading  Laurels  upon  the  Head  of  each  triumphant 
Soldier,  who  hath  fought  manfully,  and  weather- 
ed all  the  toil  and  hardfliips  of  this  fpiritual  War- 
fare I  How  do  I  long  for  that .  mofi:  blefi^ed  time , 
when  this  poor  unworthy  Creature,  the  laft  and 
i^Aft  of  all  my  Maitev's  Servants  5  fhall  be  called 
*  "'^    -'    •■'       \        ■  -r  ■  upoq 


MEDITATIONS.     i^j 

upon  to  put  oiFthis  load  of  Sin  and  Corruption,  and 
thus  dilburdcned,  remove,  and  fix  my  H.ibitation 
in  the  heavenly  City,  mingHng  with  that  harmo- 
nious Hoil  above,  and  doing  homage  with  them 
in  the  blelFed  prefence  of  my  glorious  Lord  :  Re- 
leafed  not  only  from  the  Senfe,  but  even  the  for- 
•rowful  Remembrances  of  Death,  and  Suffering, 
Ignorance  and  Infirmity,  Difeiues  and  Temptati- 
ons, Decays  and  Pains ,  ialfe  Plcafures  and  violent 
Paifions,  which  are  our  conftant  Exercife  and  Mi- 
fery,  while  we  continue  our  Journey  through  this 
Valley  of  Tears. 


CHAP.     VII. 

Of  the  Comforts  afforded  good  Men  trader  their  ch.  7, 
prefent  Trouble, 

SUCH  are  the  Frailties,  fuch  the  Incumbrances 
of  a  wretched  mortal  State  j  wretched  indeed, 
if  confidered,  either  with  regard  to  the  weight 
laid  upon  it,  or  its  own  inability  to  fuflain  the 
Iieavy  load.  But  bleffed,  and  for  ever  magnified 
be  the  Mercy  of  our  God^  wdio,  while  he  afflicls 
and  difciplines  by  his  Providence,  does  not  leave 
us  delHtute  of  the  pov/eiiul  Afiillances  and  fweet 
Confolations  of  his  Grace  !  I  feel  my  felf  indeed 
oppreiTed  and  pierced  thro'  with  many  Sorrows, 
and  anxious  fears  3  my  Life,  I  know, .  muft  ihortly 
have  an  end,  the  guilt  of  my  Sins  firikcs  me  with 
horror  and  amazement.  For  death,  I  am  fenfiblc, 
configns  me  oyer  to  Judgment ,  and  the  torments 
.pf  Hell  are  the  due  reward  of  my  evil  Deeds  3  and 
-what  defence  to  make  for  my  felf, I  cannot  tell, 
in  that  Day  when  every  Acirion,  and  Word,  and 
thought  (hall  undergo  a  fcrutiny  more  exacl  and 
ievere  than  I  at  prefent  am  able  to  conceive, 
.,.•  ■    ■    ■        -  ~-  Xhefg 


zy(5 


MEDITATIONS. 


Thefe  are  fuch  mortifying  Refle6tions5  as  mull  of 
neceffity  fink  me  into  defpair,  did  not  my  Lord, 
according  to  his  wonted  goodnefs  interpofe,  and  in 
the  midil  of  my  lamentations  and  deep  diftrels 
fupport  my  drooping  Soul,  and  aflwage  my  an- 
guilh  with  profpcct  of  Mercy,  when  I  /hall  Hand 
moffc  in  need  of  it.  ^  By  thefe,  exalting  my  hopes, 
and  carrying  my  troubled  Mind  to  the  tops  of  the 
everlafting  Hills,  to  the  ferene  and  peaceful  Regi- 
ons of  Blifs  y  ftrengthening  my  Faith,  and  refrefh- 
ing  me  in  the  pleafant  Paftures  of  the  Rivers  of 
Waters  :  Shewing  me  the  plenteous  Provifion 
made  for  the  Entertainment  of  wearied  and  fa- 
mifhed  Souls.  This  glorious  fight  makes  me  for- 
get my  Sufferings,  foftens  and  even  recommends 
my  prefent  Troubles,  leaves  me  no  longer  grovel- 
ing upon  the  Duft,  but  leaves  Earth  and  its  vain 
Object  behind.  So  that  I  then  look  down  with 
difdain  upon  the  tumults  and  dangers,  the  folUes 
and  miferies  of  this  World  >  and  with  a  Mind  per- 
fectly compos'd,  can  reft  my  felf  upon  thee,  the 
true,  the  holy,  the  undiflurbed  Peace  of  every  tru- 
ly pious  and  devout  Chriflian. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

u4n  AH  of  Love  andT>evotion. 

I  Love  thee,  O  my  God,  and  defire  to  love 
thee  every  day  more  fervently.  For  thou  art 
beautiful  and  amiable  above  the  Sons  of  Men, 
and  defervefl  an  Affeftion  equal  to  thy  own  ador- 
able and  incomprehenfible  Excellencies.  Equal  to 
the  marvellous  inftances  of  Goodnefs,  of  which 
thy  tender  care  for,  and  unfpeakable  condefcen- 
fions  in  working  out  the  eternal  Salvation  of  Man- 
kind, hath  given  fuch  plentiful ,  fuch  aflonifhing 
Proofs.    O  let  that  Fire  defcend  into  my  Heart, 

which 


MEDITATIONS.  157 

which  burns  with  a  bright  and  holy  Flame ,  never 
langLiifhing,  never  to  be  quenched.  May  every 
part  of  me  feel  the  kindly  heat,  may  it  expand 
it  felf,  and  burn  up  every  other  PaiHon :  that  all 
the  drofs  of  vain  and  polluted  Paffions  and  Defircs 
being  entirely  confum'd,  I  may  be  turn'd  all  into 
Love,  and  know  no  other  Obje6t  of  that  Love, 
but  thee  alone,  my  deareft,  fweeteft  and  moft  love- 
ly Saviour. 

By  that  moft  holy,  that  moft  precious  Blood,  ch.  ii. 
which  thou  wert  content  to  fhed  upon  the  Crofs 
for  our  Redemption  J  grant  me,  I  befcech  thee, 
the  Grace  of  a  truly  contrite  and  devout  Heart, 
at  all  times  5  but  then  efpecially,  when  I  approach 
thy  Majefty  in  Prayers  and  Praifes ,  and  thankful 
Commemorations  of  the  Myfterious  Methods  of 
Man's  Redemption ,  that  moft  ftupendous ,  moft 
confpicuous  and  everlafting  Monument  of  the  di- 
vine Mercy.  When  I  (unworthy,  I  confefs,  of 
fo  high  a  Privilege)  proftrate  my  felf  before  thy 
Altar,  and  afiift  in  that  heavenly  Sacrifice,  which 
thou,  my  undefiled  High-Pricft,  hath  mftituted 
for  a  Memorial  and  Pledge  of  thy  Love  j  and  for 
the  daily  repair  of  thofe  Breaches  which  Sin  and 
Frailty  make  upon  our  Souls,  by  ihefe  frequent 
and  lively  Reprefentations  of  that  Death  and  Paf- 
fion,  by  virtue  whereof  alone  v/e  are ,  or  can  be 
faved. 

While  I  attend  upon  thefe  holy  Myfteries,  let 
my  Mind,  I  moft  humbly  pray  thee,  be  fenfibly 
com.forted,  and  my  Faith  confirmed  with  the  Joys 
of  thy  blefTcd  Prefence.  Let  me  find  thee  nigh  at 
hand,  and  be  afte6i:ed  as  becomes  one,  who  juftly 
values  the  Honour  and  Happinels  of  fuch  a  Union 
with  thee.  Let  my  fpiritual  Delights  be  ravifhing- 
ly  fweet,  my  love  of  thee  exceeding  ftrong  and 
ardent,  my  inward  hungrings  after  thee  refrefh'd. 
For  thou  art  the  Bread  of  Life,  every  day  eaten, 
yet  ftill  v^hole  and  never  coniumed :    Lord,  grant 

me 


258 


MEDITATIONS. 


me  evermore  this  Nourifhrnent :  Thou  art  the  Light 
eternal,  never  ecKpied,  never  extincb:  O  fliine  in 
my  Heart,  warm,  enhghten  and  fanclify  me,  that 
I  may  be  a  chofen  Veflel  for  thy  ufe,  purged  from 
all  wicked  Filth ,  filled  with  all  Grace,  and  ever 
preferving  that  fulnefs.  So  fhall  I  fpiritually  feed 
upon  thy  Fleih,  and  feel  my  Soul  efFeclually  fuf- 
tained  in  the  llrcngth  of  this  heavenly  Repafl  5  fo 
iliall  I  be  nourilhed  unto  Life  indeed,  and  living  of 
thee,  and  by  thee,  at  lail  be  conducted  to  thee, 
and  for  ever  red  in  thee. 

Ch.  12.  "  ^  Banquet  of  Love,  heavenly  fweet,  let  my 
Bowels  be  refreihed  by  thee,  my  inward  Part  over- 
flow with  the  Nectar  of  thy  Love,  and  my  Soul 
burfl  out  with  zealous  Exprcflions  of  thy  Praife 
continually.  My  God  is  love  it  felf,  fweeter  than 
Honey  to  my  Mouth ,  Suftenance  and  Joy  5  make 
me  to  live  and  grow  in  thee,  and  correct  my  viti- 
ated Palate,  thut  I  may  truly  relifh  thy  heavenly  de- 
lights, and  lofe  all  talte,  all  appetite  for  any  other. 
Thou  art  the  Soul  of  my  Life,  the  ftafF  of  my  Hope, 
the  end  and  fum  of  all  my  Defires.  O  do  thou 
polTefs  my  whole  Heart,  prefide  over  every  Facul- 
ty, direct  my  Undcritanding ,  exalt  my  Affections 
^nd  quench  the  thirft  of  my  longing  Soul  with 
xhofe  Rivers  of  Pleafures  which  flow  at  thy  right 
Hand  for  evermore.  Let  eveiy  flcllily  and  turbu- 
lent defire  be  awed  into  flleace,  and  all  Imagina- 
-tions  of  things  in  Heaven,  and  Air,  and  Earth,  flee 
from  before  thee.  Let  Dreams  and  fancied  Revela- 
tions j  let  every  Word,  and  Sign,  and  Thought  give 
way  y  and  even  the  Soul  it  felf  iland  mute,  go  out 
of  it  felf, .  aiid  be  employed  in  the  Contemplation 
of  thee  alone  ;  for  thou  art  my  hope  and  my  only 
trutt :    And,  though  the  vilencfs  of  my  own  Con- 

Ch.  13-  dition,  and  efpecially  the  innnite  faults  and  frail- 
ties of  my  Life,  might  reafonably  fliut  me  out  from 
any  hope,  that  fo  great  and  holy  a  God  ihould 
^dmit  fo  polluted  a  Wretch  into  Communion  with 

him  3 


MEDITATIONS.  259 


him  5  yet  in  regard  the  Word  of  God  hath  conde- 
fcended  to  dwell  in  my  Flefh,  and  united  his  Di- 
vine to  our  Human  Nature,  I  can  with  confidence 
look  up  to  that  powerful  IntercelTor  at  thy  right 
Hand,  and  will  not  doubt  but  I  ihall  one  Day  be 
exalted  to  the  lame  blefled  Place,  where  my  Flcih 
and  Blood  does  in  my  Jefus  already  fit  triumphant. 
To  whom  be  Praife  and  Glory,  Honour  and  Ado- 
ration, and  Thankfgiving  for  ever.     Aynen. 


C  H  A  P.    IX. 

The  ^leafttre  of  meditating  npon  Cod.       ch.  14. 

'OW  fweet,  O  gracious  Lord,  who  in  won- 
derful kindnefs  haft,  fo  loved,  and  flived,  enli- 
vened, and  fan6biiied,  and  exalted  us,  how  inex- 
preilibly  fweet  are  the  thoughts  and  the  remem- 
brance of  thee !  The  more  I  dwell  on  thefe  Re- 
fiections,  the  more  I  feel  my  Soul  exhilerated  and 
tranfported  with  them.  The  ETCcellencies  of  thy 
Nature,  and  merciful  Difpenflitions  of  thy  Provi- 
dence, I  contemplate  with  the  mod  abitra6lcd  iim- 
plicity  of  thought,  that  my  prefent  State  is  capa- 
ble of  J  and  feel  the  Delights  redilting  from  them 
fwell  to  a  pitch,  as  high  as  this  difbance  of  a  So- 
journer in  a  fhrange  Land  admits.  More  I  covet 
earneftly,  and  daily  afpire  after,  and  can  but  covet 
and  afpire  after,  during  my  confinement  to  a  Bo- 
dy of  Flefh  and  Frailty.  I  am  v/ounded  with  the 
Darts  of  thy  Love,  and  burn  v/ith  eager  Dcfire  of 
feeing  aad  being  infeparably  united  to  Him  whom 
my  Soul  longeth  to  enjoy.  I  will  therefore  ftand 
upon  my  guard,  and  take  good  heed  to  my  ways> 
y  'Will  fing  with  the  fpirit^  and  I  will  fiyig  with  ths 
under  ft  dnding^  and  exert  my  utmoil  Activity  in  fet- 
ting  forth  the  praifes  of  him,  v^ho  hath  made  mc 
his  own  by  a  double  Title  >  firft  bv  creatine:,  and 

then 


x6o  MEDITATIONS. 


then  by  renewing  and  reftoring  my  Nature.  My 
Soul  fnall  mount  above  the  highell:  Heavens,  and 
in  defire  dwell  with  thee  continually  j  that  how- 
ever my  bodily  Prefence  detain  me  here  below, 
yet  in  my  Inclinations  and  AfFe6lions  I  may  re- 
lide  above,  and  fo  my  heart  be,  where  thou,  its 
beft  and  mofl  delirable  treafure,   art. 

But  pity,  I  befeech  thee,  gracious  Lord,  the 
Impotence  and  Infirmities  of  thy  Servant,  who, 
the  more  he  contemplates  thine  infinite  Majefty 
and  Goodnefs,  the  more  confcious  he  is  of  his  dif- 
ability  to  raife  up  to  the  Dignity  of  that  Subjeft. 
My  Heart  is  too  narrow,  and  thy  unbounded  Ex- 
cellencies, thy  Beauty,  and  Power,  and  Glory, 
and  Love  exceed  the  largeft  Comprehenfions  of 
any  humane  Mind.  As  the  brightneCs  of  thy  Ma- 
jelly  is  unconceivable,  fo  are  the  Bowels  of  that 
everlafting  Mercy,  by  which  thou  adopteft  them 
for  thy  own  Children,  and  receivedll:  them  to  be 
one  with  thy  felf ,  whom  thou  at  firll  createdfl 
out  of  nothing. 

Confider,  O  my  Soul,  the  greatnefs  of  this  love, 
and  the  noble  privileges  accruing  to  thee  from  it : 
For  if  thou  hall  juft  notions  of  thefe  things,  thou 
wilt  be  perfectly  convinced,  that  if  the  enduring 
daily  Pains  and  Sicknefs,  nay,  if  the  Torments  of 
Hell  it  felf  for  a  feafon,  were  made  the  condition 
of  beholding  Chrift  in  his  Glory,  and  being  re- 
ceived into  the  number  and  fociety  of  the  biefled 
above  J  no  Sufferings  could  be  fo  cxquifite,  that 
they  ought  not  to  be  gladly  entertained,  none 
which  would  not  find  themfeives  abundantly  re- 
compenced,  by  obtaining  a  portion  in  that  tran- 
fccndent  Fehcity.  What  though  the  Devils  then 
lay  wait  for  us,  and  draw  us  into  lliarp  Trials  of 
our  Virtue ;  what  tho'  this  Body  be  macerated  with 
Falling,  fretted  with  Sackcloth,  fatigued  with 
Toil,  and  dried  up  with  want  of  Sleeps  what 
tho'  sny  Enemy  deride^  or  rail  againilj   or  create 

me 


•^MEDITATIONS.  zdi 

me  mifchief  and  difquiet  >  though  Cold,  or  Want, 
or  Pain,  or  Sicknefs,  wear  out  a  tedious  Life  in 
Sighs  and  incefTant  Complaints  ^  let  my  Strength 
be  fpent  in  heavinefs,  and  my  Years  in  mourning; 
let  me  roar  for  the  very  anguifh  of  my  Heart,  and 
my  Body  have  no  foundnefs  or  whole  part  in  it, 
provided  I  may  find  reft  in  the  Day  of  Tribula- 
tion, and  rejoice  at  laft  in  the  felicity  of  thy  chofen^  p^^j^  ^^^ 
and  give  thanks  with  thine  inheritance.  j. 

For  how  can  we  efteem  that  Glory  according 
to  its  worth,  or  what  can  be  a  purchafe  equivalent 
to  that  happinefs,  in  which  the  face  of  every  righ- 
teous Man  fhall  ihine  as  the  Sun  in  its  Strength  ? 
When  the  Lord  fhall  reckon  up  his  People,  and 
diftribute  them  into  their  refpe&ive  Ranks,  and 
the  degrees  of  Blifs  differing  from  each  other,  in 
proportion  to  the  good  they  have  done  in  their  re- 
{pe6tive  Bodies.  When  he  fhall  put  the  faithful  in 
pofTeffion  of  thofe  promifes  they  fo  long  depended 
upon  >  and  in  exchange  for  earthly,  give  them  hea- 
venly, for  temporal  and  tranfitory,  eternal  and  ne- 
ver fading  goods;  and  make  them  who  have  ac- 
quitted themfelves  well  in  a  very  little,  Rulers  over  Luke  t^ 
much.  Nothing  fure  can  be  added  to  the  happi-  n- 
neis  of  that  day,  when  the  Lord  fhall  introduce 
his  holy  ones  into  his  Father's  Prefence,  and  to 
make  them  fit  down  with  himfelf  in  heavenly  pla- 
ces, that  God  may  be  all  in  all. 

O  Blifs  inexprcflible,  to  fee  the  Saints,  to  be  with  Chap.  i6, 
them,  to  be  one  of  them  >  to  fee  God  as  he  is,  and 
to  pofTefs  him  for  ever  and  ever !  O  let  this  Blifs  be 
often  in  our  thoughts,  always  uppermoft,  nay, 
only  in  our  defkes:  for  it  deferves  the  whole  of 
us,  and  this  is  the  method  of  infuring  it  to  our 
(elves.  For,  if  the  greatnefs  of  the  Prize  put  you, 
as  well  it  may,  upon  enquiring  how  you  can  ever 
hope  to  compafs  it,  which  way  you  can  deferve  it, 
or  what  afliftances  are  necefTary  for  this  purpofe, 
the  aniwer  is  fhort  and  ready.  For  God  hath  fo  Matt.  ir. 
I  '  ordained 


i6x  MEDITATIONS. 


prdiiincd  that  it  is  in  every  Man's  Power  to  be 
Matt.  II.  happy,  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  fuffers  violence y 
to  deiire,  and  refolve,  and  endeavour,  and  flrive, 
is.  to  be  quaUfied,  and  no  JVIan  ever  failed  in  his 
attempt,  who  was  willing  to  take  by  force. 
^jiThis  Kingdom  is  indeed  an  invaluable  Treafure,- 
biit  yet  every  Man  is  capable  of  being  a  Purchafer, 
becaufe  the  only  price  God  expects  for  it  is  a  Man's, 
felf.  Give  but  your  felf,  and  this  will  be  looked 
upon  as  a  Confideration  fuflicient.  And  therefore 
never  be  difcouraged  at  the  difproportion  betwixt 
what  you  can  pay,  and  what  you  can  hope  to  recei\'e: 
For  the  Purchafe  is  paid  by  another  Hand  to  the 
utmoft  Farthing.  This  was  done  whenChrift  gave 
himfelf3    and  he  gave  himfelf,  that  he  might  ran-* 

Rom.  6.  fom  you,  and  make  your  Heart  a  Kingdom  for  his 
Father  to  reign  in.  Deliver  therefore  your  felf  in- 
to his  PofTeflion,  that  Sin  may  no  longer  reign  in 
your  Body  unto  Death,  but  that  God  may  dwxU 
and  reign  in  you  by  his  Spirit,  for  the  attainment 
of  everlafting  Life. 

Ch.  17.  How  eager  then,  my  Soul,  fliould  we  be  to  re- 
turn to  that  heavenly  City,  w^here  our  Home  and 
our  Privileges  are,  where  we  are  Free  Denizens, 
and  have  our  Names  enroll'd  in  the  Book  of  God  ? 

Rom.  8.  Since  therefore  we  are  Fellow-Citizens   with  thd 

^1'  Saints,  Heirs  of  God,  and  Joint-Heirs  with  Chrifl, 

let  us  very  diligently  reprefent  to  our  felves  the 
glorious  advantages  of  thefe  Characters,  and  the 
blifs  of  our  Native  place,  in  the  befl:  light  our  pre- 
fcnt  thoughts  can  .let  them.     Let  us  cry  out  with 

pral.87.3.  the  Prophet  of  old,  Hoijo  excellent  things  are  fpoken 
of  thee^  thou  City  of  God!    All  thy  Inhabitants  are 

Pr.'.1.48  2.  like  them  that  fing,  Beautiful  art  thou  for  fit  nation^ 
and  the  joy  of  the  ivhole  earth.  Into  thy  Gates  en-^ 
ter  neither  old  age,  nor  decay,  nor  mifery  j  No 
lame  or  maimed,   no  deformity  or  ddc^^   but  all 

Kph.4.T3.  grow  up  into  a  perfect  man^  unt&  the  meafure  of  ths 
Jtature  of  the  fukiefs  of  Chrifl:. 

What 


MEDITATIONS.  269 

What  can  be  wanting,  what  be  added,  to  the 
Happinefs  of  that  Life,  which  is  never  threatned 
with  Poverty  or  Sicknefs,  never  mulefted  with 
Wrongs  or  Violence,  with  Anger  or  Envy,  or  ex* 
orbitant  Befire :  Where  all  the  prefent  NecelTities 
of  Nature  ceafe  ♦,  and  thereftlefs  Ambition  of  Ho- 
nour and  Power  and  Riches  find  no  place  :  Where 
we  are  no  longer  in  fear  of  any  Devil,  or  in  dan- 
ger of  his  Temptations,  or  in  fo  much  as  a  polTi- 
bility  of  his  Torments  :  Where  neither  Body  nor 
Soul  can  dye,  but  both  are  endued  with  a  Life  e- 
verlafting,  ever  delightful  :  No  Cafualties,  no 
Malice,  no  Qiiarrels  or  Fadions,  but  univerfal  A- 
greement,  profound  Peace,  and  perfed  Love  : 
Where  the  Day  never  declines,  but  a  Light  as 
perpetual  as  it  is  glorious  ?  For  that  City  hath  110  Rev.  21; 
7teedofthe  Smu^  jieither  of  the  Moon  to  JInne  hi  zt,  but  2J- 
the  glory  of  God  doth  Ughtejt  ;>,  a77d  the  Lamb  is  the 
light  thereof  Nay,  the  Saints  too  JImll  JJme  as  the 
hrightiisfs  of  the  fnna7ne7it^  arid  they  that  turn  viany  Dan.i2.^ 
to  righteoiifjtefsj  as  the  Stars  for  ever. 

Hence  there  is  no  Night  -,  nor  Darknefs,  nor 
Clouds  -5  no  extremities  of  heat  and  cold,  but  fuch 
a  happy  temper  in  all  refpects,  as  no  eye  hathfeen^  ^  q^^  2, 
or  ear  heard^neither  hath  it  entred  into  the  heart  of  any  9. 
man  to  conceive  ^  except  thofe  happy  Souls,  whom 
their  own  Experience  fhall  inftrud,  and  whofe 
Karnes  are  written  in  the  Book  of  Life.  To  all 
which  we  may  add  the  Honour  and  Happinefs 
of  affociating  with  Patriarchs  and  Prophets,  of 
converling  v/ith  Apoftles,and  Martyrs,  and  Saints, 
and  all  thofe  dear  Relations  and  Friends,  who 
vv^cnt  thither  before  us.  Thefe  are  very  glorious 
Advantages,  but  that  which  far  excels  them  all,  is, 
that  we  fhall  fee  the  Face  of  God,  and  ever  admire 
and  gaze  upon,  and  rejoyce  in  his  excellent  Glo- 
ry. O  Happinefs  ineflimable,  when  we  fhall  fee 
God  as  He  is  in  himfelf  •,  when  we  fhall  fee  him, 
and  enjoy  him  our  felves,  and  when  this  Sight 

S  and 


264  MEDITATIONS. 


and  Fruition  fhall  never  have  any  Interruption, 
any  End. 


.^r 


<J 


CHAP.    X. 

ch.  xviii.    Of  loving  GoJ^  and  the  Jdvantagej  of  doing  fo. 

TH  E  Soul,  which  is  flamped  with  the  Image 
of  God,  and  is  glorious  in  proportion  to  her 
Gpnformity  with  his  holinefs,  hath  from  her  Maker 
gn  innate  Principle  which  reminds  her  of  her  Du- 
ty, and  enables  her  either  to  perfevere  ftedfaft 
.with  God,  or  quickly  to  return  to  him,  if  at  any 
time,  through  the  Violence  of  her  Paffions,  or  any 
other  Imperfections  fhe  be  drawn -afide.  Nor  hath 
fhe  only  hopes  of  preferving  afpiritual  Life,  by 
the  reviving  ProfpeCl  of  Mercy  and  Pardon,  but 
is  allowed  to  aim  at  higher  Matters,  and  afpire  to 
enter  into  ftrid  Bonds  of  inviolable  Amity  with 
God,  and  to  be. yoked  in  love  with  the  King  of 
Angels. 

r  Of  luch  mighty  Efficacy  is  Love,  if  it  bring  our 
Will  to  a  refemblance  of  God,  and  aliimilate  us  to 
that  Objedl  by  Inclination,  which  we  already  re- 
^  femble  by  Nature  ^  all  which  is  done,  when  we 
love  as  we  are  beloved.  For  Love  is  the  only  Mo- 
tion and  Affection  of  the  Soal,  which  can  qualify 
a  Creature  to  anfwer  the  Ends  of  its  Creator,  and 
to  make,  tho'  not  a  full,  yet  an  acceptable  and 
thankful  Compenfation  for  all  his  GooJnefs  to  it. 
"Where Love  takes  place,it  prefently  gets  Domini- 
on, and  brings  over  all  the  reft  of  the  AfFedtions 
infubjedtion  to  it  felf.  Love  is  of  it  felf  fufficient, 
and  pleafes  for  its  own  fake.  This  is  reputed  De- 
iert,  this  is  both  the  Duty  and  the  Reward  ^  the 
Caufe  and  the  Effedt  of  doing  well  :  By  this  we 
are  reconciled,  and  intimately  united  to  God.     . 

Love 


MEDITATIONS.  265 


Love  makes  two  Minds  become  one  :  It  infpires 
the  fame  Inclinations  and  the  fame  Averfions  :  It 
is  the  Standard  and  Rale,  by  which  we  frame  our 
Actions  and  Difpofitions :  It  confiders  things  pre- 
fent  as  though  they  Were  not  *,  and  looks  upon 
heavenly  and  fpiritual  things  v/ith  a  pure  unpreju- 
diced View.  It  firft  prevails  with  Men  to  behave 
themfelves  decently  in  Matters  of  thisWorld,and 
then  raifes  their  Thoughts  above  this  World,  fo 
to  defpife  all  below,  and  at  laft  to  fix  their  View 
upon  thofe  of  another,  and  dwell  with  delight 
upon  the  myfterious  Excellencies  of  God  him- 
felf  It  lets  us  into  thofe  Beauties  of  the  divine 
Nature,  which  are  otherwife  too  high  and  dark 
for  us  to  bTehold,  and  helps  us  to  imitate  what  it 
helps  to  fee  and  to  admire  ! 

God  the  Father  is  Love,  God  the  Son  is  LoVe,  Ch.  '%\^ 
God  the  Holy  Ghoft  is  the  Father's  and  the  Son's 
Love.  This  Love  requires  the  Production  of  fome- 
what  like  it  in  our  felves  ^  fuch  amutual  AfFedi- 
bn,  I  mean,  as  may  unite  us  to,  and  render  us 
nearly  related  to  it  felf.  Love  is  an  enemy  to  di- 
ftance  and  formal  refped  ^  it  gives  us  confidence 
in  approaching  to  God,  afpires  after  a  friendly 
and  familiar  converfation  with  him^  and  embol" 
dens  us  to  fpeak  to  him  without  fear  or  doubting. 
He  lives  to  no  purpofe  Vv^lio  lives  without  this 
Grace.  But  he  that  keeps  his  Eye  always  fixed 
upon  God,  as  the  fupreme,  the  fole  Objecl  of  his 
Thoughts  and  Defires,  he  meditates  upon  him, 
delights  in  him,  is  fed  and  nouriihed  by  him. 

A  Man  thus  devoted  to  him,  lings  his  Praifes, 
pours  out  his  Prayers,  reads  his  Word,  performs 
every  part  of  his  Duty,  and  demeans  himfelf  in 
every  Adion  of  his  Life  with  fuch  Care  and  Cir- 
cumfpedion,  as  if  his  bodily  Eyes  faw  God  prefent 
.(  as  in  truth  he  is  prefent )  with  him,  in  every 
thing  he  fays  or  does.  His  Prayers  are  fo  fervent 
and  his  Mind  in  themfp  exalted,  as  if  it  were  no 

B  2  longer 


266  MEDITATIONS. 


longer  in  the  Body,  but  tranflated  and  wrapt  up 
into  that  glorious  place,  where  thoiifayd  thoiifands 

Dan,  7.  ofAv^ehproftrate  theynfelves  before  the  Throne  of 
the  Majefty  on  high,  and  ten  thovfajid  th?ies  ten 
thovfavd  vihiijlcr  unto  h'un.  The  Soul  which  is  vifi- 
ted  by  love,  is  effedliiall)^  awakened  out  of  its 
Sleep  •  it  is  foftened  and  inftrudted,  and  fmitten 
with  its  Force.  This  turns  darknefs  into  light,  o- 
pens  that  which  was  fhut,  warms  ai:d  fires  that 
which  was  frozen,  fmooths  the  rough  and  angry, 
and  impatient,  chafes  away  vicious,  and  fubdues 
carnal  Affections,  corrects  theTemiper,and  renews 
the  Spirit  of  the  inner  Man.  It  is  an  effectual 
Check  to  the  Follies  and  the  Levities  of  Youth, 
and  a  ftrong  Guard  againft  fpiritual  Danger  and 
Temptations.  So  fenfible^  lb  Itrong  is  the  power 
of  love,  when  cherifhed  and  prefent  with  us  •,  but 
when  this  cools  or  quite  goes  out,  our  good  Dif- 
poiitions  languilh  and  dye,  and  can  no  more  be 
preferved  than  Fire  without  Fewel,  or  the  boiling 
of  a  Pot,  when  the  Heat  is  taken  from  under  it. 

€i\  xK.  Great  are  the  Advantages  of  this  Virtue,  which 
gives  the  Soul  immediate  accefs  with  confidence 
to  God,  and  ftauds  in  no  need  of  any  introducer, 
which  preferves  a  clofe  Union  with  him,  and  con- 
fults  him  freely  upon  any  emergency  that  requires 
his  councel  and  help.  A  Soul  thus  afFected  hath  God 
continually  in  its  thoughts,  and  difcourfe,  and  de- 
fpifeSjdifdains  ev'ry  thing  befides.  All  its  refiedious 
all  its  converfation  relifti  of  this  love.fo  entirely  is 
the  man  in  the  pofTelTion  of  it.  The  way  to  know 
God  truly  is  to  love  him.It  is  to  very  little  purpofc 
that  we  read,  or  meditate,that  we  hear,  or  preach, 
.  or  pray,  if  this  be  not  at  the  bottom  of  our  reli- 
gious exercifes.  For  by  loving  God  we  come  to 
love  our  own  Souls,  and  to  be  follicitous  for  their 
fafety  and  true  happinefs.  The  end  of  God's  lov- 
ing us,  is  that  we  may  love  him  in  return  •,  and 
the  requiring  this  at  our  Hands^  is  a  frefh  initance 

of 


MEDITATIONS.  267 


of  his  favour, be  can  fe  he  knows  that  theywho  love 
him  arefure  to  be  happy  upon  that  very  account. 
The  Soul  that  loves,  renounces  all  its  own  appe^ 
tites,  and  attends  to  this  only,  that  fo  it  may  an« 
fwer  the  end  of  being  loved  by  loving  again. 
And  tho'  in  our  payment  of  this  tribute  we  be 
never  fo  profafe,  yet  u^hat,  alas !  is  this  in  compa- 
rifon  of  thatinexhauiledfource  of  Love,ever  run- 
ning over,  ever  flowing  in  upon  us  >  For  we 
greatly  miftake,  if  we  have  the  vanity  to  imaghi, 
that  what  we  pay,  and  what  we  receive,  the  Soul 
and  God,  the  Creature  and  the  Creator,  can  ever 
meet  upon  equal  terms.  But  if  a  Man  love  with 
his  whole  Heart,  tho'  this  be  nothing  as  to  any  fn- 
trinfick  value  of  its  own,  yet  it  is  efteemed  not  to 
be  defedive,  becaufe  he  is  capable  of  no  more. 
Let  not  the  Soul  then  that  thus  loves  God  be  dif- 
couraged  ^  the  only  juft  caufe  of  Fear  is,  whei| 
v/e  do  not  love  him  as  we  may  and  ought. 

The  Soul  that  loves  after  this  manner,  is  eager 
in  her  Wifhes,  fixed  in  her  defires,  lays  no  ftrefs 
upon  her  belt  actions,  but  thinks  all  fhe  can  do 
too  little  •  is  not  terrified  by  the  Majefty  of  God, 
but  ravifhed  with  delight  in  the  contemplation  of 
his  Mercy,  takes  fanduary  in  his  Goodnefs,  and 
converfes  with  him  frequently  and  freely.  Thig 
does  as  it  were,  carry  the  Man  out  of  himfelf,  and 
make  him  act  fcparately  from  his  bodily  Senfes, 
that  he  feems  to  have  no  longer  any  regard  to  him- 
felf, but  is  entirely  f^vallowed  up  in  God.  Nor 
are  thefe  aiery  and  roraantick  Notions,  but  fuch 
as  every  ones  own  experience  will  confirm  to  him, 
when  tranfported  with  the  unfpeakable  fweetnels 
of  heavenly  Meditations.  He  does  then  as  it  were 
make  an  efcape  from  every  other  Objcd,  that  he 
may  be  diverted  and  interrupted  by  no  other 
thoughts,  but  enjoy  perfect  Happinefs,  and  give 
himfelf  up  entirely  to  God.  Nothing  could  aid 
to  this  ravifhing  Satisfadtion,  were  but  the  conti«. 

S3  nuance 


268  MEDITATIONS. 



nuance  equal  to  the  Intenfenefs  of  it.  For  th& 
Love  of  God  contrads  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  Inm,  that  acquaintance  begets  an  affurance, 
that  afTurance  creates  a  fenfible  delight,  and  that 
delight  breeds  a  defire  of  more  and  greater  inti- 
macies.    A  Soul  thus  enflamed  is  full  of  longings 

Pfal.42. 1'  and  thirftings,  and  often  cries  out  with  the  Pfal- 
mift,  Like  as  the  hart  pajtteth  after  the  water-hrooh^ 
fopaiiteth  7nyfoiil  after  thee^  0  God. 

Chap.  xxi.  Love  brought  dov/n  God  to  Men  »,  this  induced 
him  to  dwell  among  Men  ♦  this  moved  him  to  be 
himJelf  made  Man  :  He  in  his  nature  is  invifible  ^ 
but  this,  rendred  him  not  only  vifible,  but,  in  won- 
derful Condefcenfion,  like  to  his  own  Servants  : 
It  was  Love  that  wounded  him  for  our  Tranfgref- 
fion  :  incomprehenlible,  unexampled  Love,  that 
made  his  Soul  heavy  to  the  Death,  and  poured  out 
his  heart'sBlood  upon  the  Crofs.  Love,  that  provi- 
ded a  fure  retreat  for  miferable  Sinners,  by  open- 
ing that  paffage  to  their  Saviour's  heart :  For  thi- 
ther now  I  can  betake  my  felf,  and  what  I  want 
of  merit  of  my  felf,  fupply  out  of  the  Bowels  of  my 
pierced  Redeemer.  There  is  a  perpetual  Spring  of 
Mercy,  and  through  the  Orifice  in  his  Bod}'- 1  can 
approach  the  Jleceffes  of  his  Soul.  Thefe  Wounds 
unlock  the  Myftery  of  Godlinefs,  and  ftiei^/  me 
that  tender  compajhon  of  my  Lord,  whereby  the 

Luke  I.  Day  faring  from  on  high  vifited  loft  Wretches,  when 
they  fate  iii  darhief^  and  in  the  jJh-tdow.  of  death. 

The  Wounds  of  Chrift  are  full  of  Pity,  full  of 
Virtue,  full  of  Sweetnefs  and  Kindnefs  inexprelli- 
ble.  They  pierced  his  Hands  and  his  Feet,  and 
thruft  through  his  Side  with  a  Spear.  By  thefe 
Paflages  I  can  tafte  and  fee  how  gracious  my  Lord 
hath  been  •,  for  he  is  indeed  gentle,  and  long  fuf- 
fering,^nd  of  great  pity  to  all  them  that  call  up- 
on him  faithfully,  to  all  that  feek  him.  diligently, 
to  all  that  love  him,  who  hath  fo  wonderfully 
fir  ft  loved  them.     In  the  Wounds  of  our  blefTed 

Saviour 


MEDITATIONS.  269 


Saviour  we  have  plenteous  Redemption,and  there 
we  may  find  abundant  Goodnefs,  ravifhing  De- 
light, fulnefs  of  Grace,   and  perfection  of  Virtue. 


C  H  z\  P.    XI. 

The  good  Effects  of  meditatirig  on  Chriji's  De.itb 
arid  Sufferings, 

"^Hen  any  finful  Imagination  follicites  me, 
I  ftrait  take  Sanduary  in  my  Saviour's 
Wounds.  When  the  Flefh  weighs  dovv^n  my  Soul, 
the  remembrance  of  his  Sufferings  breaks  all  my 
Fetters,  and  fets  me  free  by  heavenly  Thoughts 
again.  When  the  Devil  lays  his  Snares  to  entrap 
and  deftroy  me,  I  iiee  for  help  to  the  tender  Mer- 
cies of  my  dying  Lord,  and  the  Enemy  foon  feels 
himfelf  difappointed  and  draws  off.  IfLuflbe 
kindled  in  my  Breaft,  and  flir  my  Body  to  Rebel- 
lion, I  refled:  on  the  Agonies  of  the  Son  of  God 
for  my  fake,  and  prefently  thofe  impure  Fires  are 
quenched.  In  any  fort  of  Suffering  or  Diftrefs  I 
fod  no  Comfort,  no  Relief  comparable  to  the 
Confideration  of  my  afflicted  Saviour  :  In  his 
Wounds  I  can  lay  me  down  and  fleep  fecurely  ^ 
thefe  are  my  defence  and  the  fupport  of  my  Soul 
in  any  Temxptation  that  airaults  me,  in  anyAffli-* 
dion  that  befalls  me. 

Chrift  died  for  us  ^  furely  then  the  bitternels  of 
Death  is  paft,  and  nothing  can  be  fo  gi'ievous  to 
humane  Nature,  that  it  may  not  be  m.oUified  hy 
this  Confideration.  In  that  Death  of  his  is  all  my 
Hope  andTruft,  I  plead  no  other  Merit,  I  ask  no 
other  Refuge,  this  is  my  Health,  my  Life,  nay,  my 
fecond  and  better  Life,  my  Refarredion  from  the 
Dead.  His  Mercies  are  great,  unmeafurably  great, 
and  how  worthlefs  fo  ever  I  may  be  in  my  felf, 

S  4  yet 


270  MEDITATIONS. 

yet  while  I  am  looked  upon  as  having  a  Ihare  in 
thefe,  I  cannot  be  rejedted  or  defpifed.  For  his 
Mercies  proi'e  him  willing  to  fave.  and  therefore 
his  Power  is  no  longer  a  Terror,  but  mj  bell 
Security. 

Ch.  xxiii.  I  am  indeed  a  very  grievous  Sinner,  and  my 
Confcience  upbraids  me  v/ith  numberlefs  and  hei- 
nous Tranfgreifions  againft  God  and  his  moft  righ- 
teous Laws  •,  but  notwithftanding  thefe  reproaches 
of  my  own   Breaft,  make  me  fometimes  uneafy, 

Rom.  6. 1,  and  afraid,  yet  do  I  not  defpair  •,  becaufe  where  fit 
hath  abointded^  there  Grace  hath  much  viore  abounded, 
Nay^  I  mult  not,  I  dare  not  defpair-,  for  this  were 
to  bind  one  fault  upon  another,  and  to  aggravate 
all  the  wickednefs  I  had  ever  been  guilty  of  be- 
fore. For  he  that  defpairs  of  forgivenefs  for  his 
Offences,  does  in  effed  declare,  that  God  is  not 
merciful  ^  and  b}^  diftrufting,  robs  him  of  his  be- 
loved Attribute,  which  is  the  higheft  Outrage  and 
Injuftice  that  any  Man  can  polhbly  commit  againft 
God.  He  does,  as  much  as  in  him  lies,  bear  Te- 
ftimony  in  contradiction  to  that  Love,  and  Truth, 
and  Power,  which  are  the  only  Foundation,  on 
which  all  Hopes  are  built.  For  how  could  I  hope 
had  not  his  Love  adopted  me,  had  not  his  Truth 
promifed,  had  not  his  Power  redeemed  me  ?  Let 
then  my  foolifh  mifgivings  murmur  wathin  me 
never  fo  im.portunately,  let  them  ask  me  never  fo 
infultingljr,  what  can  I  pretend  to,  or  how  dare 
I  prefume  to  fuppofe,  that  any  Defer ts  of  mine 
fhould  procure  me  fo  excellent,  fo  very  difpropor- 
tionate  aReward  •,  ftill  my  hope  ftands  firm,  and 
I  fliall  reply  with  aff-irance,  as  St.  l\tiil  had  left 

2  Tim;  i^  me  a  pattern,  IhwiP  whom  I  have  believed^  and  am 

'3*  pcrfuaded,  that  he  v/ho  made  me  his  own  Son  by 

Adoption,  loves  rr.e  exceedingly  ^  that  he  who  is 
true,  will  be  as  good  as  his  Word,  and  that  he  who 
is  Almighty  can  lie  under  no  Temptation,  not  to 
make  it  good  ^  he  can  perform  his  Froanfe  to  the 

utter- 


MEDITATIONS.  271 


uttermoft,  and  the  very  prorriiiing  Ihews  him  as 
willing  as  he  is  able  to  do  it. 

My  Sins  are  not  only  great,  hut  many  ^  Lut 
neither  their  Quality  nor  their  Number  terrifies 
me,  when  the  Death  of  my  Saviour  comes  into 
my  mind  •,  becaufe  I  know  they  cannot  in  either 
refped  outweigh  his  Sufferings  upon  my  account. 
The  Nails  and  Spear  proclaim  my  Deliverance, 
and  atteft  my  Reconciliation  with  Chrift,  provi- 
ded I  fincerely  love  him.  The  Soldier  opened  me 
an  Entrance  into  his  Side,  and  into  the  Clefts  of 
thofe  Wounds  I  can  retreat  with  fafety.  If  any 
Man  be  afraid  of  his  Condition,  let  him  learn  to 
love  •,  for  this  Love  will  be  fure  to  caft  out  all 
anxious  and  defponding  Fear.  Our  Redeemer  . 
flretch'd  out  his  Arms  upon  the  Crofs,  by  that 
Pofture  to  fignify  his  readinefs  to  receive  Sinners 
into  his  Embraces,  when  tiiey  flee  to  him  for  fuc- 
cour.  In  thofe  dear  Arms  I  delight  to  live,  and 
in  them  I  defire  to  dye.  There  can  I  with  a  light 
and  joyful  heart  iing  with  the  Prophet,  Jb?///  7nag--  H  30.  r. 
fiifie  thee^  0  Lord^  for  thou  hajlfet  fne  iip^  ayid  not 
made  77iy  foesto  trhmiph  over  7ne,  Our  Icind  Saviour 
bowed  his  Head  when  he  gave  up  the  Ghoft,  and 
in  fo  doing  ftooped  down  to  meet  and  to  kifs  his 
beloved  ones.  And  every  one  of  us  may  be  pro- 
perly faid  to  kifs  our  Lord,  every  time  we  feel 
our  Hearts  fenfibly  wounded,  and  devoutly  afFe- 
cled  with  his  Love. 

And  fhall  not  this  be  the  conftant  effect  of  our  Ch.  xxiv.. 
Meditations  upon  it  >  Yes  fure,  my  Soul,  lince 
thou  art  honoured  by  the  Imprefs  and  Character 
cf  thy  Great  Maker,  fince  thou  art  ranfomed  with 
the  moft  precious  Blood  of  thy  Redeemer,  fince 
thou  art  betrothed  to  this  divine  Spoufe  by  Faith, 
endowed  with  bis  Spirit, adorned  with  his  Graces, 
and  advanced  to  the  Dignity  of  Angels  in  his  gra- 
cious Defigns  for  thy  everlafting  Felicity  ^  do  thy 
diligence  to  love  him,  who  hath  fo  wonderfully 
'.      ,  loved 


272  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  ^  O  N  S. 


loved  thee  :  Set  thy  heart  upon  him,  who  fets 
his  upon  thee  ^  feek  him  who  hath  fo  follicitoiif- 
ly  fought  thee  ^  whofe  goodnefs  hath  prevented 
thee,  and  is  the  caufe  of  thine.  He  is  the  merit. 
He  the  reward.  He  the  fruit  and  the  end  of  thy 
Love.  Conform  thy  felf  therefore  in  all  things  to 
him,  let  his  care  excite  thine,  his  leifare  enter- 
tain thine,  be  clean  with  the  clean,  and  holy 
with  the  holy.  Such  as  thou  prefenteft  thy  felf  be- 
fore God,  fuch  apprehenfions  it  is  plain  thou  en- 
tertaineft  concerning  him.  If  thou  bclieveft  him 
full  of  Meeknefs  and  Goodnefs  and  Mercy,  thou 
canft  not  but  conclude,  that  he  expedls  all  his 
Children  fhould  be  gentle  and  kind,  compaiho- 
iiate  and  humble.  Strive  to  be  like  him  then,  and 
let  this likenefs prove,  (for  nothing  elfe  can  prove 
it)  that  thou  doft  truly  love  him,  whofe  Com- 
panion brought  thee  out  of  the  Mire  and  Clay, 
and  drew  thee  back  from  the  bottomlefs  Pit  of 
Peftru6lion. 

Choofe  him  for  thy  Friend,  and  prefer  him  be- 
fore all  other  Friends,  who  when  all  other  Confi- 
dences forfook  and  betrayed  thee,  was  the  only 
one  that  ftuck  clofe  to  thee  in  thy  Extremity.  In 
the  Day  of  thy  Death,  when  no  Friend  elfe  will 
or  can  do  thee  fervice,  he  will  not  defert  thee  : 
Then  will  this  kind  Saviour  be  fure  to  ftand  by 
thee,  and  fave  thee  from  the  reproof  of  him  that 
would  eat  thee  up  ^  deliver  thy  Soul  from  thofe 
roaring  Lions  that  wait  ready  to  tear  it  in  pieces, 
and  carry  it  up  on  high  through  unknown  Ways  ^ 
bring  thee  to  the  heavenly  Jenifalem^  and  place 
thee  amongft  Angels  in  his  own  prefence,  where, 
thou  flialt  hear  that  heavenly  Song,  Holy,  Holy, 
Holy,  &c.  There  is  the  Voice  of  joy  and  health, 
of  thankfgiving  and  praife,  and  never  ceafing 
HaUcbijahs  :  there  is  the  perfcdionof  Happinefs, 
and  Glory,  andGladnefs,  and  every  thin^  defira- 

ble  and  good. 

.     ^  Pant 


MEDITATIONS.  273 


Pant  eagerly,  my  Soul,  and  let  all  thyDefires 
loofe  after  this  blefTed  Place  ^  that  thou  maj'^eft 
come  into  that  City  above,  of  which  fuch  glori- 
ous things  are  fpolcen.  And  love  will  carry  thee 
thither,  how  fleep  foever  the  Afcent  may  feem. 
For  this  furmounts  all  Difficulties,  and  leaves  no- 
thing impoffible  to  the  Perfon  aded  by  it.  This 
takes  frequent  Flights  thither  even  while  upon 
Earth,  and  walks  with  great  Freedom  through  the 
Streets  o^  Jenifalem  above  ^  it  vifits  the  Patriarchs 
and  Prophets,  and  Apoftles,  beholds  with  wonder 
the  ;-egular  Armies  of  Martyrs  and  Confeflbrs,  and 
the  beauty  of  chafte  and  holy  Virgins.  In  fhort, 
both  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  every  thing  in  each, 
are  ever  inculcating  this  Duty  •  that  I  ought  to 
love  the  LorJ^ny  God  r/uh  all  viy  hearty  with  all  my  Mit.  2»« 
m27id^  with  all  7uy  foid^  and  with  all  my  ftrength,  ^7. 

But,  were  not  this  necelTary  in  point  of  Duty,ch.  xxv, 
yet  it  is  abfolutely  fo  in  Point  of  Intereitand  Pru- 
dence. For  when  the  Heart  of  Man  is  not  fixed 
upon  this  Objed,  it  is  never  fixed  any  where  ^ 
but  roves  about  perpetualhr  from  one  thing  to  a- 
nother,  feeking  reft  where  it  is  never  to  be  found. 
Now  the  reafon  why  it  can  never  meet  with  Sa-^ 
tisfadipn  in  any  of  thefe  frail  and  tranfitory  mat- 
-ters,which  captivate  its  Affections,  is  becaufe  the 
Soul  is  above  them  all,  and  of  a  Condition  fo  ex- 
cellent, that  no  Good  but  the  Supreme  Good  can 
anfwer  its  Defires.,  or  prove  its  adequate  Hap- 
pinefs.  For  God  hath  endued  it  with  fuch  a  Prin- 
ciple of  Liberty,  that  it  cannot  be  compelled  to 
the  Commiijion  of  any  Sin.  And  therefore  every 
Man's  Salvation  or  Damaiation  turns  at  laft  upon 
his  own  Choice.  Hence  no  Man  can  bring  a 
richer  Pr.efent  to  God,  thau  an  honeft  and  good 
Heart.  This  brings  God  down  to  Us,  and  car- 
ries Us  up  to  him.  By  this  we  love  God,  and 
choofe  God,  and  arrive  at  him,  and  attain  to 
t;he  Enjoyment  of  him, 

Tliis 


274  MEDITATIONS. 

This  is  the  thing,  that  by  the  alTiftance  of  Di- 
vine Grace,  renev/s  us,  and  reftores  our  primitive 
likenefs  to  God  :  This  is  of  fo  great  account  with 
him,  that  his  Spirit  will  not  dwell  with  them  that 
have  it  not.  This  engages  him  to  be  with  us,  and 
reign  in  us,  and  makes  the  Soul  a  receptacle  for 
the  Majefty  of  the  whole  Trinity.  The  Wifdom 
of  God  enlightens  it  to  the  Knowledge  of  the 
Truth.  The  Love  of  God  inflames  it  with  a  De- 
lire  of  his  Goodnefs  •,  and  the  fatherlv  Affedion 
of  God  preferves  his  own  Creature,  that  the  ho- 
ly MotioBs  he  infpires,  and  the  Perfon  infpired 
by  them,  ll^ould  not  perifh. 


CHAP.     XII. 

eh.  xxvi.  Of  the  Knowledge  of  the  Truth, 

BU  T  what  is  it  to  know  the  Truth,  and  by 
what  Steps  we  do  come  to  it  ?  The  firfl:  is,  for 
a  Man  to  be  throughly  acquainted  with  himfelf, 
to  make  it  his  bufinefs  to  be  what  he  ought  to  be, 
and  to  correct  and  reform  whatever  he  finds  amifs 
in  himfelf.  The  next  is  to  know  and  to  love  the 
God  that  made  him  :  For  this  is  the  whole^  the 
Duty  and  the  Happinefs  o^  Man.  Now,  in  order 
hereunto,  we  fhall  do  well  to  obferve,  how  ex- 
ceeding good  God  hath  been  to  us,  and  what  Ob- 
ligations we  have  to  love  him  in  return.  He  made 
us  out  of  nothing,  when  we  had  no  Being  •,  and 
all  we  havercceived  ever  fince  we  came  into  being. 
is  his  Gift.  But,  becaufe  we  are  degenerated  in 
our  Affections,  and  loved  the  Gift  more  than  the 
Giver,  the  Creature  more  than  the  Creator,  we 
fell  into  the  Snare  of  the  Tempter,  and  became 
the  Servants  of  Sin  and  the  Devil.  When  we  were 
reduced  to  this  miferable  Condition,  God  iookt 
upon  us  v/ith  an  Eye  of  Pity,  and  fent  his  Son  to 

•        "'  break 


MEDITATIONS.  27^ 


break  our  chains,  and  rekafe  us  from  our  Slavery. 
He  fent  his  holy  Spirit  too,  the  Spirit  of  Adopti- 
on, and  exalted  his  Servants  to  the  dignity  of 
Sons.  He  gave  his  Son  to  be  our  Ranfom,  and 
his  holy  Spirit  to  be  the  Pledge  of  his  Love,  and 
he  referves  the  Whole  of  Himfelf  for  our  future 
Reward  and  Inheritance. 

Thus  God  in  infinite  compaffion  and  kindnefs, 
for  the  exceeding  tendernefs  he  bore  to  Mankind, 
hath  not  only  been  liberal  in  his  Bleffings,  but 
hath  even  laid  out  himfelf  for  our  advantage  •  that 
he  might  reftore  loft  Man,  not  fo  much  to  God, 
who  could  not  fuiFer  by  that  lofs,  as  to  his  own 
felf,  who  muft  have  been  otherwife  irreparably 
undone  by  it.  That  Men  might  be  born  of  God, 
God  condefcended  to  be  born  of  Man.  And  what 
heart  is  fo  infeniible,  fo  hard  and  flinty,  as  not 
to  be  foftened  with  fuch  aftonilhing  advances  of 
Love-,  a  Love  which  began  entirely  on  God's 
part,  and  was  fo  ftrangely  great,  that  he  vouchfa- 
fcd  to  become  Man,  purely  for  the  fake  and  bene- 
fit of  Man  ?  Who  can  hate  any  other  Man,  whofe 
nature  andlikenefs  he  fees  in  the  Son  of  God  made 
Man  ?  Certain  it  is,  that  he  who  hates  his  Bro- 
ther, does  by  neceffary  confequence  hate  God  ; 
and  he  who  hates  God,  will  find  that  all  his  pre- 
tended good  Works  are  nothing  worth. 

Now  God  was  made  Man  for  our  fakes,  that  he 
who  had  been  our  Creator  might  be  our  Redeemer 
alfo,  and  that  the  humane  Nature  might  contri- 
bute to  its  own  Redemption.  Again,  God  appear- 
ed in  the  likenefs  of  Man,  that  by  his  Condefcen- 
fion  Man  might  be  better  acquainted  with  God, 
and  love  him  with  a  more  free  and  tender  AfFedi- 
on,  whom  he  faw  ftoop  down  to  the  fame  level, 
and  a  fort  of  equality  with  himfelf.  Thus  all  the 
Faculties  of  our  Souls  are  made  happy  in  the  Con- 
templation of  him  :  Thofe  of  the  Rational,  in  hi^ 
Divine  Perfections,  and  thofe  of  the  Senfitive,  in 

his 


276  MEDITATIONS, 


his  humane  Body.  So  admirably  contrived  is  this 
,  Myltery  of  Godiinefs  to  engage  our  AfFedions, 
that  Man  in  eveiy  Capacity  might  meet  with  Ob- 
jects fuitable  to  him  ^  and,  whether  he  go  in  or 
out,  might  find  Pafture  in  his  God  and  .Saviour, 
ch.xxvli.  Such  are  the  Benefits  of  the  Son  of  God  in  our 
Flefh,  all  which  are  more  compleat  by  the  MiP^ 
fion  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Son  was  born,  and 
crucified,  and  died  for  us,  that  by  that  Death  of 
his  he  might  defliroy  the  Death  which  before  had 
Dominion  over  us.  Kow,  when  the  Grape  of 
Fieih  was  fquee^'d  in  the  Wine-prefs  of  the  Crofs, 
the  Spirit  of  Grace  was  fent  to  cleanfe  our  Hearts 
that  we  might  be  Veffels  prepared,  and  meet  for 
our  Mailer's  Ufe,  and  jiew  IFine  might  he  pit  into 
vew  Bottles.  This  was  neceilary,  firft,  that  ouf 
Hearts  being  purged,  the  Liquor  put  into  them 
might  not  be  tainted  ^  and  then,  that  being  feal- 
ed  up,  what  they  contained  might  not  be  loft. 
They  are  cleanfcd,  when  they  ceafe  to  rejoyce 
in,  and  have  no  longer  any  relilh  for  Sin,  and 
they  are  fealed  up,  when  fortified  againft  Temp- 
tations, and  the  Seducements  of  vain  and  worldly 
Delights.  For  that  which  is  good  could  not  be  re- 
ceived by  them,  till  that  which  was  evil  was  firfl: 
taken  away.  The  love  of  Sin  pollutes,  the  love  of 
Vanity  fpills  the  Wine  •  the  former  fouls  the  Vef- 
fel,  the  latter  makes  it  leaky. 

The  love  of  Sin  makes  us  delight  in  that  which 
is  evil :  The  love  of  Vanity  engages  our  Affedi- 
ons  to  things  unprofitable  and  of  no  continuance. 
Put  away  therefore  the  Evil,  that  you  may  make 
room  for  the  Good  :  Pour  out  the  bitter  and  the 
vapid,  that  you  may  be  filled  with  the  generous 
and  delicious.  The  Holy  Ghoft  is  Joy  and  Love  3 
Cafi:  out  the  Spirit  of  the  Devil  and  of  this  World, 
and  you  (hall  receive  the  Spirit  of  God.  The  Spi- 
rit of  the  Devil  difpofes  us  to  love  Sin,  the  Spirit 
of  this  World  to  delight  in  empty  and  im.aginary 

Joys," 


MEDITATIONS.  277 


Joys.  Thefe  are  "both  evil  ^  for  the  former  is  di- 
redly  vicious,  and  the  other  hath  a  Tendency  to 
Vice.  But  when  thefe  Spirits  are  difpofTelTed,  the 
Spirit  of  God  will  fucceed  into  their  place.  He 
will  enter  into  the  Tabernacle  of  thy  Heart,  and 
produce  holy  Joy  and  holy  Love.  The  love  of 
the  World  allures,  and  deceives,  and  betrays  ^ 
The  love  of  Sin  defiles  and  deftroys,  and  there- 
fore thefe  muft  be  expelled  by  their  Contraries  : 
And  fuch  is  the  Love  of  God.  For  this  enlightens 
the  Underftanding,  purifies  the  Confcience,  fills 
the  Soul  with  true  Joy,  and  leads  us  to  the  fight 
and  knowledge  of  God,  and  his  glorious  Per- 
fedions. 


C  H  A  P.     XIII. 

The  Marks  and  Fruits  of  true  Love,         ^hap. 


TH  E  Man  that  truly  loves  God,  is  always 
thinking  when  he  fhall  be  fo  happy  as  to 
be  with  him,  when  he  fliall  leave  the  World,  and 
/-^ake  an  efcape  out  of  this  Prifon  of  Corruption, 
that  his  Soul  may  be  free,  and  find  perfect  eafe 
and  peace.  And,  even  while  in  the  Flefti,  he 
lives  not  after  the  Flefli,  but  fends  his  Thoughts 
and  Defires  up  to  Heaven  before  him,  fitting  or 
flianding,  in  motion  or  at  refi:,  in  every  pofture, 
in  every  Action,  he  keeps  God  continually  in  his 
mind.  He  is  very  zealous  in  perfuading  others  to 
love  God,  and  reprefenting  to  them  the  Duty 
and  advantage  of  doing  fo  :  He  endeavours  to 
convince  them  how  pleafant  this  is,  and  how  un- 
fatisfa6lory  and  tormenting  the  love  of  the  World. 
And  to  prove  that  all  this  is  not  meer  Cant  and 
Affectation,  his  Temper,  his  whole  Converfati- 
on  fpeak  him  to  be  in  very  good  earneft,  and 
confirm  the  truth  of  his  Arguments, 

The 


xxvin. 


278  M  EDITATIONS, 


The  Honours  and  Riches  of  this  prefent  Life  he 
looks  dov/n  upon  with  a  juft  Difdain  :  Pities  or 
defpifesthe  Mifery  of  thofe  who  take  fuch  Pains 
about  them  ^  fhews  how  extremely  foolilh  it  is,  to 
place  one's  Confidence  in  things  that  are  continu- 
ally flying  from  one :  Wonders  at  the  blindnefs  and 
ftupidity  of  the  Wretches  that  dote  upon  them  • 
and  that  every  body  does  not  fee  fo  little  in  them 
as  to  quit  thefe  for  fomewhat  more  fubftantial. 
He  is  fatisfied,  that  would  they  fubmit  to  make 
the  Experiment  without  Prejudice  or  Palfion,  all 
the  World  would  approve  His  better  choice,  find 
inexpreffible  pleafure  in  what  He  loves,  and  be 
fully  fatisfied  in  the  truth  of  that  which  is  to  Him 
evident  beyond  a  doubt.  He  frequently  entertains 
himfelf  with  the  Contemplations  of  God,  and 
feels  a  wonderful  Comfort  and  Refrefhment  from 
them  5  the  more  fenfible  and  fweet  in  proportion 
as  they  are  oftner  repeated.  For  that  which  is 
always  worthy  of  our  Praife  and  Love,  cannot 
but  be  always  delightful  to  our  Thoughts. 
Cha  p.  This  is  indeed  the  true  Peace  of  the  Soul,  when 

2ixix.  it  gets  loofe  from  all  diftradlion  of  thought,  and 
contracts  all  its  defires  into  God  alcne,as  their  pro- 
per Center.  This  leaves  no  vacant  fpace  for  other 
Inclinations,  but  alVis  full  of  that  which  employs 
it,  and  entirely  contented  with  the  pleafure  refuL 
ting  from  thence.  And  if  at  anytime  it  happen, 
(  as  fometimes  during  this  frail  State  it  will)  that 
any  trifling  Thought,  or  multiplicity  of  Buiinefs 
come  in  between,  all  this  is  looked  upon  as  a  di- 
greflion,  or  impertinence,  and  the  Alan  makes  all 
the  hafl:e  that  poflibly  he  can,  back  to  his  main 
Point.  To  dwell  upon  any  thing  elfe  he  looks  up- 
on as  a  Piniifliment  like  that  of  being  baniflied 
from  one's  own  Country.  For  as  there  is  no  mo- 
ment of  our  Lives,  in  which  we  do  not  tafte  fome 
frefti  infl:ance  of  God's  Gocdnefs,  fo  fliould  there 
not  be  any  neither,  in  which  this  great  Benefactor, 

who 


MEDITATIONS.  279 

who  is  continually  prefent  by  his  Mercies,  fliould 
not  be  prefent  alfo  in  our  thoughts  and  thankful 
remembrances. 

This  Confideration  muft  needs  make  the  Fault 
of  thofe  Men  very  great,  v/ho  when  they  come  to, 
and  converfe  with  God  in  Prayer,  prefently  dif- 
mifs  all  their  devout  AfFedions,  and  behave  them- 
felves  as  though  he  neither  faw  nor  heard  them^ 
And  thus  does  every  one  who  purfues  his  own 
linful  or  worldly  Defigns,  and  prefers  fome  worth- 
lefs  Creature,  by  which  his  Mind  is  eaiily  diverted 
from  better  and  more  important  Conliderations. 
And  prefer  fuch  he  does  before  God,  who  employs 
more  of  his  Pains  and  Thoughts  upon  this,  than 
he  does  upon  God  •,  who  ought  to  be  perpetually 
there,  and  conftantly  remembred  as  our  Creator, 
adored  as  our  Redeemer,  waited  for  as  our  Saviour, 
feared  as  our  Judge. 

Confider  therefore,  Man,  when  the  World  be-  ch.  xkx^ 
gins  to  get  within  thee,  what  thou  art  doing,  and 
where  this  Courfe  will  end:  Withdraw  thyfelf  by 
degrees  from  BuHnefs  and  Noife  •  and  run  away 
from  theConfufion  and  Perplexity  of  a  diftraded 
Mind.  Unload  thy  Cares,  and  give  a  little  of  thy 
time  to  God  •,  enter  into  thy  Chamber  and  com- 
mune with  thy  own  Heart  •  let  none  be  admitted 
into  thefe  Retirements,  belides  Him,  and  fuch  af-* 
liftants  as  may  be  ufefal  in  the  fearch  after  him. 
Then  let  thy  Heart  fincerely  profefs  with  the  Pro-* 
-phet^ThoJihafifaid^feekyemyface^  thy  face  ^  Lord^Vh],  2I, 
will  Ifeek.  Yea,  Lord,  I  covet  earneftly,  but  all  ^' 
in  vain,  except  thou  teach  my  heart,  where  and 
how  to  feek,  where  and  hov/  to  find  thee.  For  if 
thou  art  not  here,  whither  fliall  I  go  to  look  thee  > 
But  if  thou  art  not  only  here,  but  every  where, 
how  comes  it  to  pafs,  that  I  do  not  difcern  thee  > 
I  am  told  thou  dwelleft  ht  the  light ^  tphzch  ?io  man 
can  approach  unto  :  And  how  vain  is  the  attempt  to 
go  in  quefl:  of  a  Perfon  inaccelTible  .>  Or  who  fhall 

T  conduct 


28o MEDITATIONS. 

condud  me  thither,  that  I  may  fee  thee  there, 
whither  it  feems  no  humane  Power  can  come  > 
But  by  what  Marks  Ihould  I  diftinguifh  thee,  ha- 
ving never  feen  th}^  Face  ?  What  fhall  this  mife- 
rable  Stranger  do,  that  longs  impatiently  to  be- 
hold thee,  laments  his  diftance,  andknovv^s  not 
how  to  fliorten  it  ^  would  gladly  find  thee,  and 
cannot  tell  where  thou  dwelleft  ^  deflres  to  pofTefs 
thee,  and  yet  does  not  know  thy  Face  > 

Ch.  xxxi  O  Lord,  thou  art  my  God,  and  I  thy  Creature, 
doubly  thy  Creature,  by  Nature  firft,  and  after- 
ward by  Grace  :  All  I  ever  had,  and  all  I  hope 
for,  is  of  thy  Hand  alone,  and  yet  I  have  not  feen 
thee  at  any  time,  neither  know  thee  :  Na}^,  for 
this  very  end  was  I  created,  that  I  might  fee  thee, 
and  have  not  all  this  while  attained  the  intent  of 
my  Creation.  Hard  fate  of  them,  who  anfwer  not 
the  End  for  which  they  were  at  all  !  Yet  fuch  is 
now  the  Cafe  of  miferable  Man  ^  He  is  fallen  from 
the  Happinefs  to  which  he  was  defigued,  into  the 
Mifery  which  was  never  intended  for  him.  That 
is  departed  from  him,  without  which  there  can 
be  no  Happinefs  ^  and  That  rem.ains  with  him  ^ 
which  in  its  own  Nature  is  exquifitely  miferable. 
Man  did  once  eat  that  Angels  food,  which  he  now 
hungers  after  •,  but  now  he  eats  the  Bread  of  Af- 
flidion,  with  which  he  then  was  utterly  unac- 
quainted. 

ffal.  13.  i'.  -^^'^^  ^ovg^  0  Lord,  wilt  thou  forget  me,  for  ever  ^ 
hor^  long  wilt  thou  hide  thy  face  froin  7ne  ?  When  wilt 
thou  turn  again  and  hear  us  ?  When,  O  when, 
wilt  thou  enlighten  our  Eyes,  and  fhew  us  the 
Light  of  thy  Countenance,  and  reliore  thy  felf  to 
us  ?  O  turn  thee  unto  us  again,  that  it  may  be 
tvell  with  us,  for  without  thee  we  mufi:  of  necef- 
iity  be  miferable.  Call  us,  and  help  us  to  come 
nigh  unto  thee,  we  befeech  thee  •  Our  Heart  is 
overwh.clmed  with  bittern efs  and  anguilli,  b}^  rea- 
fon  cf  its  forlorn  and  defolate  Condition  :  O  let 

U3 


MEDITATION  S.  281 


its  be  refreflied  with  the  fweetnefs  of  thy  Confo- 
lations.  I  hunger  after  thee,  let  me  not  be  fent 
empty  away  •,  but  gratify  the  Appetite  v/hich 
thou  haft  approved,  which  thou  thy  felf  haft  in* 
fufed. 

I  am  boived  down  with  my  Infirmities,  and 
not  able  to  lift  up  my  Eyes  to  Heaven  :  O  loofe 
me  from  this  Bond,  and  make  me  ftraight,  that 
I  may  fee  and  feelc  after  thee.  MylVichdneff'es  are  pf^i  -a. 
'gone  over  vty  head^  and  become  afore  burden  too  heai-y 
for  ?ne  to  bear.  O  let  thy  mighty  Hand  take  olf 
this  Weight,  left  I  link  under  it,  and  the  Pit  fliut 
her  Mouth  upon  me.  Teach  me  how  to  feek 
thee  ^  for  even  this  I  cannot  do  without  thy  gui- 
dance :  nor  can  I  find  thee,  till  thou  art  pleafed 
in  Mercy  to  fhew  thy  felf  to  me.  Let  me  fo  feek 
as  to  defire,  and  fo  defire  as  diligently  to  feek 
thee  5  fo  love  as  to  find  •,  and  fo  find  as  entirely 
to  love  thee. 


CHAP.    XIV. 

The  Exquifite  Goodnefs  of  God. 

.\cknowledge,  O  Lord,  with  all  due  thankful- 
nefs,  that  Goodnefs  of  thine,  which  created  me 
after  thy  own  likenefs,  that  I  might  contemplate, 
and  love,  and  copy  after  my  great  Original,  But 
alas  1  this  Image  of  thine  is  fo  fuUied  v/ith  Sin,  {o 
darkned  with  the  Fumes  of  fenfual  Lufts,  that  it 
can  no  longer  attain  to  the  refemblance  thou  in- 
tendeft  it  for,  unlefs  thou  pleafe  to  take  it  again 
into  thy  Hands,  and  refrefh  the  Impreftion.  Grant 
me  therefore,  gracious  Lord,  not  only  a  ftedfaft 
Faith,  but  a  right  Underftanding,that  I  mayknpw 
as  much  of  thee  as  thou  feeft  neceffary  for,rmy 
purpofe  :  For  fuch  thou  art  in  thy  felf,  as  thou  ■ 
haft  taught  us  to  believe  concerning  thee.    And 

T  2  we 


Ch.  xxxii. 


282 MEDITATIONS. 

We  are  taught  to  "believe  thee  a  Being,  to  which 
nothing  can  he  imagined  fuperior  in  Greatnefs  or 
in  Goodnefs.  Now,  what  Being  can  this  be,  ex- 
cept fuch  a  one  as  hath  all  Perfection  in  it  felf,  as 
only  exifts  from  it  felf,  and  gave  exiftence  to  all 
other  things  hj  creating  them  out  of  nothing  ? 
What  Goodnefs  then  can  be  v/anting  in  the  Su- 
preme and  Original  Caufe  of  Good  in  all  befides  ? 
Thou  muft  be  therefore  jnft,  and  true,  and  happy, 
and"every  other  Perfedion  which  is  more  delire- 
able  to  be,  than  not  to  be. 

But  if  Juftice  in  Perfedion  be  thy  ElTtnce  and 
Nature,  how  comes  it  to  pafs,  that  thou  doft  not 
exert  it  to  the  uttermofl:  upon  the  wicked  who  pro- 
voke it  >  Is  it  becaufe  perfed  and  incomprehen- 
fible  Goodnefs  is  equally  natural  and  elTential  to 
thee  >  This  is  a  difficulty  wrapped  up  in  that  light 
which  no  Man  can  approach  unto.  In  the  impe- 
netrable Abyfs  of  thy  Goodnefs,there  rifes  it  feems 
a  Spring,  from  whence  iffue  out  the  Streams  of  thy 
Mercy.  For  there  is  a  m.oft  exadt  Harmony  be- 
tween all  thy  glorious  Attributes,  and  being  fo  fo- 
vereignly  and  perfectly  Jull:,as  at  the  fame  time  to 
le  fovereignly  and  perfectly  Good,  th)^  Compani- 
on to  Sinners  makes  no  inconfiftence  between  thefe 
feemingly  contradictory  Excellencies.  For  thy 
Goodnefs,  'tis  evident,  would  be  lefs,  if  no  ill  Men 
had  any  experience  of  it  •,  and  he  is  more  perfectly 
Good,  who  extends  his  kindnefs  to  good  and  bad 
Men  both,  than  He  who  confines  it  to  the  good 
only  ^  and  fo  is  He,  who  exercifes  his  Goodnefs 
in  fparing  and  punifhing  too,  than  he  who  exerts 
it  in  no  other  Inftance,  but  that  of  punifhing. 
This  therefore  gives  a  rational  Account  of  thy 
Mercy  to  them  who  leaft  deferve  it,  that,  being 
perfedly  Good,  thou  canftnot  but,in  confequence 
of  that,  be  merciful. 
Ch  xxxiii  ^  inexhauftible  unmeafurable  Goodnefs,  which 
'fo  far  furpafleth  our  largeft  Conceptions,  let  me 

alfo 


MEDITATIONS.  28? 

alfo  partake  of  thy  Mercj  which  is  fo  rich,  fo  un- 
bounded :  Let  thy  Clemency  fpare,  and  prevent 
the  "Vengeance  which  I  have  caufe  to  dread  from 
thy  angry  Juftice  :  Let  that  Mercy  which  is  ever 
flowing  out  of  Thee,  flie  J  it  felf  upon  me.  Rouze 
up  thy  felf,  my  Soul,  and  ftretch  thy  intelledual 
Powers  to  their  utmoft  length,  that  thou  mayeft 
have  the  moft  fublime  and  worthy  Appreheniions 
of  the  Divine  Goodncfs,  that  this  imperfedt  dim 
State  will  admit. 

If  each  good  thing  we  fee  and  delire  below  be 
delightful  lingly,coniider  well,  how  exquifitely  fo 
that  Good  mull  be,  which  is  Univerfal,  and  con- 
tains in  it  felf  the  Charms  of  all  the  good  things 
that  are,  and  ever  were,  or  fhall  be.  And  thofe 
notfich  Charms  as  we  find  and  are  fond  of  in  cre^ 
ated  Beings,  but  as  much  above  them,  as  Infinite 
excels  Finite,  and  the  Creator  the  Creature.  If 
then  Life  derived  from  another  be  good,  how  ex- 
cellent is  that  Life,  by  which  all  elfe  do  live  >  If 
our  Wifdom  be  fo  pleafant  and  defirable,  which 
reaches  no  farther  than  the  confideration  of  Ob- 
jeds  that  prefent  themfelves  to  us  •,  how  lovely, 
how  adorable  is  that  Wifdom,  by  which  thofe  Ob- 
jects were  fo  admirably  contriv'd,  nay,  command- 
ed out  of  nothing  ?  In  Ihort,  if  different  Objeds, 
according  to  their  vaft  variety  yield  fo  very  tranf- 
porting,  fo  very  different  delights,  think  how  in- 
exprellibly  full  of  delight  He  is,  who  communica- 
ted to  each  out  of  his  own  fulnefs,  and  fo  both 
made  all  thefeObjeds,  and  made  them  delightful  ? 
O  the  ineftimable  Blifs  of  them  that  fhall  poffefs 
this  Good!  What  will  they  have?  Whatwill  they 
not  have  ?  They  will  have  nothing,  to  be  fure, 
which  they  had  rather  not  have.  They  will  be 
fecure  of  every  thing  that  can  make  Soul  and  Bo» 
dy  both  happy  :  So  great,  fo  manifold,  fo  perfed: 
Blifs,  as  eye  hath  notfeen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath 
it  entred  lyito  ths  hsart  of  Man  to  conceive, 

Ts  CHAR 


284  MEDITATIONS. 


C  H  A  P.    XV. 

Ch.xxxiv.        fijg  Happinefs  of  the  Saints  hereafter. 


W 


HY  doft  thou  then,  deluded  Creature,  let 
thy  defires  run  wild  upon  variety  of  Ob- 
jeds,  and  from  thefe  vainly  expeft,  that  Soul  and 
Body  fhould  be  happy  ?    Love  that  one  Good,  in 
which  all  others  center,  and  this  will  anfwer  all 
thy  Widies :  Whatever  can  contribute  to  the  perfe- 
ction of  thy  Outward  or  Inward  Man,  is  there  to 
be  met  with  in  Abundance.     If  Beauty  delight 
Luke  20.  thee,  the  Righteous  are  promifed  to  JInne  as  the 
Sun  :  If  activit}'-,  or  ftrength,  or  a  freedom  of  Ope- 
ration, which' no  refiftance  can  obftrud,  remember 
I  Cor.  15.  they  fhall  be  as  the  Angels  of  God,  and  that  which  is 
fown  a  natural  body  fiall  be  raifed  a  fpiritual  body  ; 
that  is,  it  fhall  rcfemble  thofe  Spirits  in  its  Acti- 
vity, and  Penetration,  and  Powers,  though  not 
in  Nature  and  Subllarxe. 

If  length  of  Days,  and  a  found  Conltitution  be 

thy  defire,  there  fhall  be  Health  unimpaired,  and 

Immortality  ^  for  the  Jufifiall  live  for  ever^mid  their 

Health  is  of  the  Lord.    If  Gratification  of  Deiires 

Pfalm  17.  to  the  full  •,  the  J  fi  all  befatisfied  when  they  wake  up 

*5'  after  theirLord's  likenefs.  If  MuiicalEntertainment, 

there  theAngels  never  ceafe  their  melodiousPraifes 

to  God  :     If  any  chafte  Fleafurcs  ^  of  fuch  God 

Pfalm  3^.  Jl)all  give  thein  to  drink^  as  out  of  a  River.     If  Wif- 

^  dom,  the  moft  wife  God  fhall  then  unlock  his  Trea- 

fures,  and  let  them  into  the  Knowledge  of  his  own 

myfterious  Nature  and  Providence.  If  Friendlliip, 

there  they  fhall  love  God  above  themfelves,  and 

One  another  as  themfelves  •,  and  God  fhall  love 

them  more  than  they  love  themfelves.  It  muft  be 

fo,  fince  they  love  him  and  one  another,  by  and 

for  him,  and  he  loves  himfelf  and  them  by  and 

forhimfelf.  If  perfect  Agreement,  there  fhall  be 

but 


MEDITATIONS.  285 

but  one  Soul  and  one  Will,  for  they  fhall  all  have 
no  Will  but  God's.  If  Power,  they  Ihall  be  abfo- 
lute  Matters  of  their  own  Will,  as  God  is  of  his. 
For  as  God  can  do  whatever  he  pleafes  by  his  own 
Power,  fo  they  fhall  be  enabled  to  do  whatever 
they  pleafe,  by  and  thro'  him  :  For  as  they  fhall 
will  nothing  but  what  he  will,  fo  he  wills  what- 
ever they  will,  and  therefore  whatever  they  will 
muft  needs  be  accomp  Hilled.  If  Honour  and  Riches, 
God  fhall  make  his  faithful  and  good  fervaiits  rulers  Luke  19, 
over  many  things  ^  nay,  they  fhall  be  dignified  with  '  7- 
the  Title  of  Gods,  and  the  Sons  of  God,  and  ihall 
te  adually  heirs  ofGod^  andjohit-heirs  with  Chrifi^ 
If  fecurePofTeifion,  they  fhall  have  as  much  aflii- 
ranee  that  no  part  of  their  Happinefs  fhall  ex^er 
forfalce  them  as  they  can  have,  that  they  can  ne- 
ver confent  to  part  with  it  5  and  that  God  who 
loved  them  fo  as  to  veft  them  in  it,  can  never 
take  it  away  from  them  he  loves  fo  dearly  againft 
their  confent  ^  or  as  they  know  that  nothing  is 
ftronger  than  God,  or  can  feparate  between  Him 
and  Them.  And  who  can  conceive  the  Excel- 
lence and  Greatnefs  of  that  Joy,  which  muft  needs 
refult  from  fo  unconceivably  excellent  and  great 
a  Good  } 

O  Heart  of  Man,  ever  wanting  fomewhat  to  CIi  xxxv, 
make  up  thy  Satisfadion,  every  Day  exercifed  with 
Pains  and  Sorrows, and  almoft  quite  opprefs'd  with 
the  mighty  Weight  and  uninterruptedSucceffion  of 
Miferies,  how  wouldeft  thou  exult,  fhould  all  thefe 
Bliffes  flow  in  upon  thee  >  Ask  thy  moft  fecret  Re- 
cefles  whether  they  could  fo  expand  themfelves,  as 
to  receive  the  Joy  which  mufl  needs  fpring  up  from 
fuch  exquifite  Happinefs,  conlider'd  purely  as  thy 
own  only.  But  further  yet,  confider  that  if  any 
other  Perfon,  equally  dear  to  thee  as  thy  own  felf, 
Ihould  enjoy  the  fame  Happinefs,this  would  double 
thy  Joy,  becaufe  thou  wouldeft  be  as  glad  for  his 
fake  as  for  thy  own  :    Again,  if  two,  or  three,  or 

T  4  more. 


286  MEDITATIONS, 

mere,  thus  dear  to  thee  were  in  the  fame  blefled 
Condition,  this  Joy  would  be  multiplied  equally 
for  every  one  of  thefe.     Now  according  to  this 
Way  of  Arguing,  what  can  we  fuppofe  will  be 
the  Rejoycing  in  Heaven,    where  Angels  and 
Saints  innumerable  partake  of  the  Happinefs, 
which  I  have  been  but  very  imperfectly  defcri- 
bing,  and  every  one  of  thefe  united  in  a  Cha- 
rity fo  fervent,  that  none  of  them  loves  any  of 
the  reft  lefs  than  himfelf,  and  confequently  will 
rejoyce  for  each  of  them  as  much  as  for  himfelf  > 
If  then  the  heart  of  Man  be  fcarce  large  enough 
to  contain  his  Joy,  for  his  own  fingle  Happinefs, 
how  fhall  it  find  room  for  fo  many  ]oys  fo  vaftly 
encregfed,  fo  often  multiplied  }  Again,  in  regard 
we  naturally  rejoyce  in  the  f elicitjr  of  another  in 
proportion  to  the  love  we  bear  to  that  Perfon  •,  it 
will  follow  from  hence,  that  fince  in  that  State 
God  is  incomparably  more  dear  to  every  Saint, 
than  that  Saint  is  to  himfelf,  and  all  his  Brethren 
to  him  •,  every  Saint  will  confequently  feel  more 
Satisfa6tion,  and  exult  incom.parably  more  in  the 
Glory  and  BlelTednefs  of  God,  than  he  will  in  his 
own  and  all  his  Brethrens  put  together.     And  if 
they  fo  love  God  with  all  their  Heart,  and  all 
their  Mind,  and  all  their  Soul,that  even  Alltheix" 
Heart  and  Mind  and  Soul,  wants  room  for  the 
largenefs  of  their  Affedion  ^   they  will  certainly 
rejoyce  too  with  all  their  Heart,  and  Mind,  and 
Soul  fo  exquifitely,  that  even  all  their  Heart,  and 
Mind,  and  Soul,  fhall  overflow  and  be  too  narrow 
to  contain  the  fulnefs  of  their  Joy. 
Ch.  Kxxvi      Tell  me  then,  O  my  God  and  my  Lord,  my 
*  hope  and  the  delight  of  my  Heart,  whether  this  be 
the  Joy  meant  by  thy  blefled  Son,  when  he  fays 
to  his  Difciples,  Ash  and  ye  pall  receive:,  that  your 
John  16.  joy  may  befulL     For  I  have  here  difcover'd  a  Joy, 
24.  that  feems  not  only  full,  but  even  more  than  full : 

SincCj  after  all  our  faculties  ^re  filled,  there  ftill 

remains 


MEDITATIONS.  287 


remains  frelh  matter  for  rejoycing  ^  matter  more 
than  can  be  comprehended,  more  than  can  ever  be 
exhaufted  :  And  therefore  the  "Whole  of  that  Joy 
can  never  enter  into  the  Perfons  partaking  in  it, 
but  they  may  very  properly  be  faid  to  enter  hito  Mat.  25* 
the  Joy  of  they  Lord, 

Say  then,  Lord,  and  inform  thy  Servant,  whe- 
ther this  be  the  Joy,  into  which  thy  faithful  Ser- 
vants fhall  enter,  whofe  diligence  in  improving 
their  Lord's  Talents  fhall  be  commended  and  re- 
warded at  the  great  Day  of  Account.  But  That,  i  Cor.  2; 
I  am  told,  is  a  Joy  never  yet  feen,  or  heard,  or  fo  9* 
much  as  conceived  by  any  humane  Mind  ^  and 
confequently  I  have  not  yet  either  in  Words  or 
Thoughts  come  up  near  to  the  Excellence  of  that 
Joy  prepared  for  thj  chofen.  Inlhort,  their  Joy 
Ihall  be  equal  to  their  Love,  and  their  Love  equal 
to  their  Knowledge  of  Thee  :  and  certainly  the 
Perfe6lion  of  their  Love  and  Knowledge  of  Thee 
in  the  next  Life,  muft  needs  exceed  all  that  ever 
Eye  hath  feen,  or  Ear  heard,  or  the  Heart  of  Man 
conceived. 

Grant  me  then,  even  Me,  my  deareft  Lord,  to 
know  thee,  and  love  thee,  and  rejoice  in  thee.  And, 
if  I  cannot  do  thefe  perfectly  in  this  Life,  let  me  at 
leaft  advance  to  higher  Degrees  every  Day,  till  I 
can  come  to  do  them  in  perfedion.  Let  the  Know- 
ledge of  Thee  increafe  in  me  here,  that  it  maybe 
full  hereafter.  Let  the  Love  of  Thee  grow  every 
Day,  more  and  more  here,  that  it  may  be  perfed: 
hereafter  •,  that  my  Joy  may  be  great  in  it  felf,and 
full  in  Thee.  1  know,  O  Lord,  that  thou  art  a 
God  of  Truth,  O  make  good  thy  gracious  Promifes  * 
to  me,  that  my  Joy  may  be  full.  And  till  it  be 
fo,  let  my  Mind  meditate,  my  Tongue  fpeak,  my 
Heart  defire  and  love,  my  Soul  hunger,  my  Flefh 
thirft  after  it,  and  my  whole  Nature  gafp  and  pant 
moft  earneitly,  till  I  adually  enter  into  the  Joy  of 
jliyLord,  there  to  remain  for  ever  and  ever,  dmen, 
T'he  End  of  the  Manual^ 


289 

Sc  ANSEL  Ms 

EDITATIONS 

Concerning   the 

Redemption  of  Mankind. 

B  O  O  K   V. 


CHAP.    I. 

OChriftian  Soul,  raifed  from  the  worft  of 
Deaths,  redeemed  and  releafed  from  the 
moft  wretched  of  all  Slaveries,  hj  the 
Blood  of  Chrift,  lift  up  thy  felf,  remember  thy 
fpiritual  Refurredion,  congratulate  thy  own  free- 
dom and  deliverance.  Conlider  what  and  where 
the  Power  of  thy  Salvation  is  •,  dwell  upon  this 
Suhjedt,  and  delight  thy  felf  in  the  thankful  con- 
templation of  it.  Shake  off  thy  fpiritual  Inappe- 
tence,  commit  a  holy  Violence  upon  thy  Heart, 
and  ingage  it  to  tafte  thy  Saviour's  Goodnefs,  and 
tobeenflam'd  with  his  Love.  Suck  thofe  Words 
which  are  fweeter  than  Honey,  and  chew  upon 
that  Food  which  is  not  only  pleafantto  thy  Tafte, 
but  wholefom  for  thy  Health  and  Suftenance.  For 
then  doft  thou  fuck  this  Honey-comb,  then  dofi: 
thou  fwallow  and  chew  upon  this  Food,  when 
thou  ftudieft,  and  underftandeft,  andloveft,  and 


290  MEDITATIONS. 

rejoyceft  in  the  gracious  Declarations  of  what  God 
hath  in  mercy  done  for  thy  Salvation, 

"Where  then  and  what  is  the  mighty  Power  of 
John  xir.  thy  Saviour  ?  Chrijft  7i  thy  RefiirreBion  aid  thy  Life: 
Lake  X.  This  is  the  good  Samaritan  who  pity'd  thy  diftrefs, 
covered  thy  Nakednefs,  and  healed  thy  Wounds  : 
This  is  the  kind  Friend,  who  hath  delivered 
thee  at  the  expence  of  his  own  Life.  And  there- 
fore the  Power  of  thy  Salvation  is  the  Power 
Rib.  3. 4.  of  Chrift.  This  is  he  that  had  honn  coming  out  of 
his  hands,  and  there  was  the  hiding  of  his  Power.  For 
his  Hands  were  nailed  to  the  Crofs  ^  and  jet^ 
What  Strength  was  there  in  that  Weaknefs  >  What 
exaltation  in  that  humility  ?  What  refpedtdue  to 
that  Ignominy  and  Contempt  ?  His  Power  was 
hid  indeed,  when  veil'd  by  fuch  an  appearance  of 
weaknefs,  his  glory  under  a  humility  that  ftoop'd 
fo  low,  and  fubmitted  to  fuch  infolence  and  inju- 
rious treatment. 

But  ftill  how  wond'rous  was  this  power  !  For  a 
Man  hanging  upon  a  tree  to  execute  that  eternal 
death,  to  which  Mankind  were  liable,  and  nail  to 
his  own  Crofs  that  very  wickedncfs  which  crucifi- 
ed him  1  For  one  condemned  to  dye  with  Thieves, 
to  fave  Sinners,  condemned  to  be  tormented  with 
John,  12.  Devils  ^  and  when  lifted  tip  from  the  earth  in  this  in- 
J2-  famous  manner,  to  draw  all  the  world  to  him.    For 

one  expiring  in  agonies  unfpeakable,  to  releafe 
wretches  innumerable  from  the  pains  of  hell  ^  and 
by  undergoing  the  death  of  the  body,  to  tak  e  away 
and  deftroy  the  death  of  fo  many  Souls. 


CHAP.     II. 

BUT  what,  my  merciful  and  moft  mighty  Re- 
deemer, what  was  the  reafonof  thy  chooiing 
to  conceal  fuch  glory  and  power  under  fo  much 

hU' 


MEDITATIONS.  291 

humility  and  contempt  ?  It  could  not  be  with  a  de- 
fign  to  keep  the  Devil  or  the  World  in  Ignorance, 
with  an  intent  to  deceive.  He  who  is  truth  it  felf 
cannot  contrive  Deceit,  and  tho"*  he  may  be  faid 
fometimes  to  hinder  Men  from  knowing  the  truth, 
yet  fuch  Expreffions  mean  no  more,  than  that  he 
fufFers  them  to  continue  ignorant,  who  through 
their  own  fault  know  no  better.  But  it  is  plain 
thou  didft  not  take  the  humane  nature  to  keep  thy 
felf  altogether  unknown,  but  to  reveal  what  was 
not  known  before  •  thou  didft  declare  thy  felf  to  be 
very  God  and  very  Man,  and  by  thy  doings  and 
fufFerings  didft  evidently  demonftrate  thy  felf  to 
be  both. 

The  myftery  indeed  was  of  its  own  nature  dark, 
but  it  was  not  made  induftrioufly  fo  :  Nor  was  its 
obfcurity  contrived  to  hide  it  from  the  World,  but 
neceffary  for  the  accomplifhment  of  thofe  great 
Ends,  by  Methods  which  God  faw  moft  agreeable 
to  his  wife  Purpofes.  And  when  we  read  of  this 
Alyftery  being  hid,  we  are  only  to  underftand,that 
it  was  not  made  manifeft  to  All.  For  tho'  Truth 
do  not  fully  difcover  it  felf  to  every  body,  yet  it 
does  not  ftiun  or  deny  accefs  to  any  body.  Thou 
didft  not  therefore  thus  order  the  matter,  either 
with  an  intention  to  deceive,  or  that  any  might 
thereby  deceive  himfelf  ^  but  didft  bear  conftant 
teftimony  to  the  truth,  that  this  gracious  difpenfa- 
tion  might  be  compleat  in  all  its  parts.  If  there- 
fore Men  were  led  into  Error,  the  fault  was  riot  in 
thee^  but  themfelves  ^  not  in  thy  truth,but  in  their 
cwn  love  offalftiood.  Could  the  Devil  alledge 
any  thing  againft  God  or  Man,  which  might  ob- 
lige God  to  alter  his  Meafures,  and  deal  with  him 
as  a  fair  and  open  Enemy  ?  No,  it  was  juft  that 
he  who  had  contrived  to  put  fo  holy  and  innocent 
a  Perfon  to  an  unjuft  death,  fhould  lofethat  pow- 
er which  he  had  before,  of  bringing  the  guilty  to 
the  death  they  juftly  deferved. 

'Tis 


292  MEDITATIONS. 

'Tis  certain  there  was  nothing  due  to  the  Devil 
from  God  but  punifhment,  nor  from  Man  but  re- 
liftance  and  conqueft.  So  that,  as  Man  had  fuf- 
fer'd  himfelf  to  be  conquer'd  by  this  enemy  before, 
when  he  was  feduced  into  Sin  ;  he  might  after- 
wards conquer  him  in  return,  by  the  humane  na- 
ture perfevering  in  unblemifn'd  righteoufnefs  even 
unto  death.  And  this  too  was  a  l3ebt  which  Man 
owed  to  no  other  but  God.  For  in  finning  he  did 
not  offend  againft  the  Devil,  but  againft  God  ^  nor 
was  heof  right  a  Subjed  of  the  Devirs,butboth  he 
and  the  Devil  were  Subjeftsof  God,  and  under  his 
Dominion.  The  Mifchiefs  and  Temptations  by 
which  Man  s  Deftrudion  was  attempted,  did  not 
proceed  from  any  Zeal  for  Goodnefs,  but  purely 
from  Wickednefs  and  Malice  :  God  did  not  com- 
mand, but  only  permit  thofe  Attempts  upon  his 
Creatures  :  Nor  was  this  permilTion  upon  any  o- 
ther  Confideration,  than  becaufe  the  Jufiice  of 
God  required  it.  So  that  God  was  under  no  Ob- 
ligations, but  perfedly  free  to  chufe  his  own  Me- 
thods and  his  own  Time,  and  to  fave  Mankind 
when  and  how  he  pleafeth. 


CHAP.     III. 


UT  was  there  any  neceiTity  that  the  mofl  High 
_  •  fhould  humble  himfelf  fo  low,  and  that  Omni- 
potence, which  can  do  every  thing  at  eafe,  fhould 
be  at  fo  much  pains  to  compafsany  of  its  defigns  ? 
No,  Every  thing  that  we  call  neceffary  or  impoC 
iible,  is  entirely  at  the  free  difpofal  of  the  divine 
Will.  Whatever  he  decrees  mufl:  of  neceffity  be  •, 
and  what  he  will  not  have  done,  cannot  pofTibly  be. 
All  we  can  fay  then  in  the  Point  is  only  this,  that 
it  was  his  Will  it  fhould  be  fb.  And  becaufe  he  al- 
•   -  ways 


MEDITATIONS.  293 


ways  wills  that  which  is  good,  we  may  fafely  infer, 
that  it  was  fit  it  Ihould  be  fo.  God  was  not  driven 
to  this  way  of  working  out  the  falvation  of  man- 
kind, but  the  condition  of  humane  Nature  made  it 
necelTary,  that  fo  fatisfadion  might  be  made  to  the 
jufti-i-e  of  God.     God  did  not  ftand  in  need  of  fuch 
bitter  fufterings,  but  Man  needed  them  in  order  to 
his  reconciliation  with  an  offended  God.     God 
was  not  profited  by  this  Condefcenfion,  but  Man 
by  it  received  the  benefit  of  a  deliverance  from 
the  loweft  Pit  of  Hell.     The  Divine  Nature  could 
not  be  compelled  to  be  abafed  or  to  fuffer,   nor 
could  it  in  truth  do  either  ^  but  it  was  neceflary 
that  the  Humane  Nature  Ihould  do  both,  that  it 
might  be  reftored  to,  and  made  capable  of,  the 
Condition  for  which  it  was  at  firft  created.    And 
for  the  compaifing  this  reftitution,  neither  the  Hu- 
mane Nature  of  it  felf,  nor  indeed  any  thing  lefs 
than  God,  was  fafficient.     For  Man  is  no  other- 
wife  to  be  reftor'd  to  the  Perfection  and  Happinefs 
of  his  primitive  State,  but  by  being  exalted  to  a 
likenefs  of  the  Angels,  thofe  blelTed  Spirits  in 
whom  there  is  no  Sin. 

Now  this  can  be  done  but  one  way,  and  that  is 
by  having  his  Sins  perfectly  remitted :  And  that 
Remiilion  could  not  be  obtained  upon  any  other 
Terms  than  a  plenary  Satisfaction.  But  how  fhould 
fuch  Satisfaftion  ever  be  made,except  the  Sinner  in 
his  own  Perfon,  or  Tome  other  for  him,  give  to  God 
fomewhat  freely  of  his  own,  which  was  not  due  by 
way  of  Debt,  and  which  Ihould  in  value  exceed  e- 
very  thing  inferiour  to  Godhimfelf  >  For,  if  God 
be  difhonour'd  and  injured  by  every  Sin,  and  Man 
ought  not  for  that  reafontobeguiltyofSin,nonot 
to  fave  the  whole  Creation  from  perifhing  ^  Rea- 
fon,  and  the  eternal  Rules  of  Equity  require,  that 
the  Sinner  fhould  make  God  amends  for  the  Injury 
done  to  his  Honour,by  reftoring  in  lieu  of  it  fome- 
-what  greater  and  more  ^valuable,  tlian  all  that.can 
3  be. 


294  MEDITATIONS. 


be,  which  is  not  a  fufficient  compenfation  for  dif- 
honouring  him.  Since  then  the  Humane  Nature 
alone  could  not  be  in  poiTeffion  of  any  thing  fo  va- 
luable, and  fince,  when  corrupted  by  Sin,  (  accord- 
ing to  the  Scheme  God  had  laid  for  his  Juftice  to 
proceed  upon)  it  could  not  be  reconciled  without 
an  equivalent  Satisfadion,  it  follows  that  neither 
could  Man,  nor  any  thing  lefs  than  God,  work 
out  this  reconciliation. 

To  prevent  therefore  that  Ufurpation  which  Sin 
had  made  in  his  Dominions,  and  the  defolation 
which  mufthave  followed  if  it  had  reigned  with- 
out controul,  or  been  left  wholly  to  his  Juftice  5 
the  Goodnefs  of  God,  was  pleafed  to  interpofe,  and 
the  Son  of  God  took  Our  Nature  into  his  own  per- 
fon.  By  this  means  being  God  and  Man  both  in 
the  fame  Perfon,  he  was  provided  with  a  fatisfadi- 
on,  exceeding,  not  only  every  thing  which  is  not 
God,  but  the  largeft  Debt  that  Sinners  could  pof- 
iibly  contract.  And  this  is  He  who  owed  nothing 
for  Himfelf,  vouchfafed  to  pay  down  for  Others, 
who  had  not  wherewithal  to  pay  what  they  owed. 
For  the  Life  of  That  Man  was  of  infinitely  greater 
worth  than  all  the  Creation  put  together  ^  and  far 
above  the  Sum  which  Sinners  were  indebted  to 
God  for  byway  of  Satisfadion. 

This  Life  that  Man  (  who  becaufe  no  Sinner, 
was  not  indebted  to  the  Law,  nor  liable  to  the 
death)  gave  voluntarily  and  of  his  own,  by  way  of 
reparation  to  his  Father's  Honour,when  he  fufter'd 
it  to  be  taken  from  him  for  righteoufnefs  fake.  And 
in  fo  doing,  left  all  other  Men  a  Pattern,  that  they 
Ihould  not,  for  any  Terrors  of  Death,  which  they 
owe  and  muft  certainly  pay,  at  one  time  or  other, 
forfake  their  duty  to  God,  or  renounce  his  righte- 
oufnefs and  truth  -y  when  they  fee  Him,  who  ow- 
ed no  fuch  Debt,  and  might  without  any  Breach  of 
Duty  have  declined  dying,  yet  freely  fubmit  to  a 
death  inflidcd  u  pon  him  for  righteoufnefs  fake.The 

humane 


MEDITATIONS.  295 

Humane  Nature  then  did,  in  this  Perfon,  give  to 
God  fomewhat  purely  its  own,  and  not  due  to  him 
as  a  debt  •  that  thus  the  fame  nature  might  be  ran- 
fomed  in  others,  who  arc  vaftly  indebted,  and  had 
not  wherewithal  to  fatisfy  the  demands  of  divineju- 
dice.  In  all  which  proceedings  the  Divine  Nature 
was  not  debafed,  but  the  Humane  was  exalted,nor 
v/as  the  former  at  all  impaired,  but  the  latter  won- 
derfully profited,  and  moil  mercifully  relieved. 


CHAP.     XIII. 

N^  O  R  muft  we  fj  mifiialce  in  this  matter^  as  to 
fuppofe  that  in  the  Man  Chrift  Jefus,  even 
his  Humane  Nature  endured  any  thing  out  of  ne- 
celFity  and  compulfion,  but  all  his  fufferiugs  were 
in  this  capacity  too,  his  own  free  choice.  For  this 
it  was  that  recommended  his  Sufferings,  and  ren- 
dred  them  fo  meritorious,  fo  full  of  mercy  and 
goodnefs,  that  he  did  of  his  own  accord  deliver  up 
himfelf  for  the  honour  of  God,  and  the  benefit  of 
other  Men,  to  that  death,  which  his  Enemies  out 
of  quite  other  Defigns,  and  in  nieer  Malice,  con- 
triv'd.  Ncr  was  he  bound  fo  to  do  by  any  obedi- 
ence,which  had  made  it  unlawful  for  him  to  refufe 
dying,  but  difpofed  to  it  by  his  own  Wifdom, 
which  forefaw  the  excellent  efreds  of  condefcend- 
ing  to  it.  For  the  Father  did  not  compel  him  by 
any  author!' ative  a6l  of  his,  but  he  readily  ofrer'd 
himfelf  to  do  that,  which  he  knew  would'  be  well 
pleafingtohis  Father,  and  infinitely  beneficial  to 
the  whole' World.  It  may  be  faid  perhaps,  with- 
out irreverence,  that  the  Father  could  not  force 
him  to  an  infiiance  of  fubmiiiion,  which  he  did  not 
owe  ^  and  the  Father  could  not  but  be  exceed- 
ingly pleafed  with  fo  great  an  honour  done  him  by 
his  Son  with  fo  very  good  a  Will.   This  was  indeed 

U  an 


7^6 MEDITATIONS. 

all  Act  of  Obedience,  bat  it  was  of  free  Obedience  ^ 
becaufe,  without  any  Obligarion,  and  of  his  own 
Accord,  he  did  that  which  he  Icnev/  would  be  moft 
acceptable  to  his  Father.   But  then,  in  regard  this 
very  Will  of  doing  it,  tho'  it  aded  freely,  was  gi- 
ven him  by  his  Father,  it  may  upon  that  account 
"be  reafonably  faid,  That  he  received  it  as  a  Com- 
mand from  his  Father,  to  do  what  he  did.     And 
thus  we  are  led  to  underftand  thofe  PaiTages  of 
Phil  2.  §.  Scripture.  He  became  obedievt  unto  Death,  As  myFa- 
]oha  14.  the r  hath  given  vie  Coimnandment^  fo  I  do.  Ihe  Cvp 
\i.  v'h'ich  7ny  Father  hath  given  ?;/^,  Jlall  I  not  drink  it  ? 

John  18.    "^"ith  feveral  others  of  the  like  Importance. 
^  *  For  this  perfect  Obedience,  and   the  mofi:  free 

of  any  that  humane  Nature  is  capable  of  when  the 
Will  of  Man,  which  is  free  in  it  felF,  does  readily 
and  willingly  conform  to  the  Will  of  God  ^  and  do 
that  v/hich  it  knows  acceptable  to  him,  of  its  own 
Accord,  and  tho'  it  be  not  pofitively  and  particu- 
larly required.  And  thus  did  This  Man  redeem 
|ill  others,  becaufe  what  he  freely  ^ave  to  God  was 
reckon'dand  gracicufly  accepted  fcr  the  Debt  t]]ey 
owed.  And  this  Price  is  fo  fufficicnt,  as  not  only 
to  redeem  Man  from  the  Puniiliment  of  his  Sins  for 
once  and  no  more,  but  to  procure  him  Favour  and 
Pardon, as  oft  as  ever  he  fhall  return  to  hisDuty  by 
"/incei  e  Repentance.  But  then  lle]entance  muift  be 
Our  Work  ^  for  lie  whohaih  promifed  to  pardon  us 
if  we  repent,  hath  not  proiiiifal  that  we  ihall  re- 
pent. Now  in  regard  this  Ranfoin  was  paid  in  the 
Crucifixion  of  Chrifl:,f:om  hence  he  is  faid  to  have 
redeemed  us  by  Iiis  Crofs.  But  irill the  Benefits  of 
this  Redemption  are,  as  I  faidy  ccaiditional  :  For 
They,  who  with  due  Gratitude  and  Reverence  ac- 
cept tills  Grace,  and  the  Terms  upon  which  it  is 
fufpcnded,  are  favcd  by  it  •,  but  Thofe  who  defpife 
and  reject  it,  are  jniUy  left  to  Condensation,  be- 
caufe they  neither  pa  \;  what  thej^owe  in  their  Own 
Pcrfons,  nor  gualilv  themfclves  fcr  a  Relcafe  by 

vei- 


M  E  D  I  T  A   r  IONS.  297 

vertuc  of  that  payment  which  Another  hath  made 
for  them. 


C  H  A  ?.    V. 

SEE,  faithful  Chriftlan,  fee  here  the  Power  of  thy 
Salvation,  the  Caufe  of  thy  Liberty,  the  Price 
paid  for  thyRanfom.  Thou  vvert  a  Captive,but  by 
this  merciful  Difpenfatioii,thou  art  now  redeem'd» 
Thou  vvert  a  Servant  but  art  thus  fet  at  Liberty  • 
banifli'd  and  brought  back  to  thy  native  Country, 
loft  and  art  found,  dead  and  art  alive  again.  Let 
ev'ryChriftian  feed  upon,  and  digeft,  andnourifh 
himfelf  with  this,when  his  Mouth  receives  the  my- 
ftical  reprefentations  of  that  dearRedeemer'sBody 
and  Blood.  Not  only  then,  but  let  this  be  th}^ 
daily  Bread,  thy  meals  and  conftant  fuftenance  : 
for,  by  attending  to  this  great  work  of  thy  Salva- 
tion, and  by  that  only,  wilt  Thou  abide  in  Chrifi:, 
andChriftinthee^  and  the  fweet  fore-taftes  of  thy 
joy  here,  fhall  advance  into  the  fulnefs  of  it  here- 
afier. 

But,  O  my  dearefi:  Lord,  who  wert  content  to 
dye.,  that  I  might  live,  how  fhall  I  rejoice  in  my 
own  Liberty,  Vv^hen  the  thought  of  that  is  necefla* 
rily  attended  with  a  rcfledion  upon  thy  Bonds  ? 
What  pleafure  can  I  take  in  my  own  Eafe  and 
Safety,  when  checked  with  a  remembrance -of  thy 
Agonies  and  Pains  ?  Or  how  fhall  I  be  tranfpor- 
ted  with  receiving  a  Life,  which  was  purchafed 
at  no  lefs  an  expence  than  thy  Death  ?  Can  I 
triumph  in  thy  Sufferings,  or  be  pleafed  with  the 
cruelty  of  thofe  hardned  brutifh  1  reaturcs,  that 
ufe  thee  fo  barbaroufly  .^  And  yet,had  they  relent- 
ed, thou  hadft  not  endured  ibch  bitter  things,  and 
hadft  not  Thou  endured  fuch  bitter  things,!  could 
not  have  attained  to  thefe  Advantages.  And  if  I 
grieve  for  thy  Sufrerings,  Iiovv  ihall  I  prevent  this 

U  2  grief 


298  MEDITATIONS. 


grief  from  imbittering  my  joy  for  thofe  benefits, 
for  the  procuring  whereof  thou  wert  well  pi  eafed  to 
fuffer  'y  and  which  never  could  have  been  had  upon 
eafier  terms  ?  And  yet  thy  enemies  malice,  it  is 
fure,  would  not  have  prevailed  againll  thee  but  by 
thy  own  permifTion,  nor  hadll  thou  fuffer'd,  if  thy 
kindnefsand  compaflion  had  not  made  thee  choofe 
it.  Thefe  things  then  laid  together,  my  duty 
plainly  is,  to  deleft  the  wickednefs  and  barbarity 
of  them  who  put  my  Lord  to  death  •,  to  imitate 
his  fuftering  and  death,  by  fafrering  and  being 
crucified  with  him  •,  to  be  truly  thankful  for  this 
wonderful  compaffion,  to  love  miy  Jefus  moft  af- 
fedionately  in  return  for  all  his  goodnefs  5  and, 
when  my  Soul  is  th'is  difpofed,  then  am  I  duly 
qualified  to  rejoice  in,  and  fecurely  depend  upon, 
the  mighty  Benefits  God  hath  done  unto  me. 


w 


CHAP.    VI. 

Hen  therefore  thou  fetteftthy  felftorefledl 
upon  the  death  ofthy  Redeemer,  do  not  al- 
low thy  thoughts  to  wander  in  dark  and  unprofi- 
table Speculations,  but  keep  them  clofe  to  that 
wherein  thou  art  properh^  concerned.  Leave  the 
wickednefs  and  cruelty  of  his  enemies  to  the  juft 
judgment  of  God  ^  and  imploy  thy  mind  in  com- 
puting how  vafl:ly  thou  art  indebted  to  fo  kind  a 
Savio  ^r.  Get  a  due  fenfe  of  thy  own  once  loft 
Condition,  and  what  hath  been  done  to  redrefs  thy 
mifery,  and  then  confider  well,  what  requital  is 
due  to  Him,  who  hath  done  fo  much  for  thee  : 
Let  a  fight  of  thy  own  neceiiities,  and  his  Good- 
nefs in  providing  fo  effcdlual  a  relief  for  them,  con- 
vince thee  throughly,  how  deeply  thou'  art  obli- 
ged hy  his  Love,  and  put  thee  upon  finding  out 
fome  pro;:er  way  of  cxpreffing  thy  thanks  for  it. 

Thou 


MEDITATIONS. 


299 


Thou  iatteft  forlorn  in  thick  Darknefs,  thy  Feet 
were  upon  flipp'ry  Ground,  upon  the  ver}?"  Brink  of 
Ruine  ;  but  why  do  I  fay  upon  the  Brink  of  it, 
when  in  eftedi:  thou  wert  already  funk  into  that 
bottomlefs  Pit,  out  of  which  thou  could'ft  never 
have  rifen  more  ?  A  Millftone,  as  it  were,  hanging 
about  thy  Neck,  dragg'd  thee  to  the  Bottom,  an 
infupportable  Weight  prefs'd  and  kept  thee  down^ 
and  multitudes  of  invifible  Enemies  were  conti- 
nually laying  at  thee  to  compleat  thy  Deftrudi- 
on.  This  was  thy  miferable  State,  deftitute  of  all 
Help,  and  yet  thou  didfi:  not  fee  nor  know  thy 
Mifery,  becaufe  conceived  and  born  in  it.  O  what 
a  lamentable  Condition  was  this,  and  how  difmal 
muft  it  have  been  to  thee  in  the  End  >  Thou 
canfi:  not  fure,  it  is  not  fit  thou  fhould'fi:,  look 
back  upon  it  without  Horrour  ^  every  mention, 
every  remembrance  of  it  niufl:  be  attended  with 
tr^embling  and  amazement. 

And  yet,  O  bleffed  Jefus,  O  compafTionate  Sa- 
viour, v/hen  I  was  in  thefe  wretched  Circumftan- 
ces,  thou  didft  break  in  upon  me,  like  the  Sun  thro' 
a  thick  Cloud,  thou  didll  difcover  my  Mifery  to 
me,  and  flied  thy  rcfrefhing  Beams  upon  miy  head, 
to  bring  me  out  of  Darlcnefs  into  thy  marvellous 
Light,  without  my  asking,  without  fo  much  as 
my  expecl:ing,  or  thinking  of  fo  happy  a  Change. 
Thou  didft  cut  oif,  and  caft  away  that  Millftone 
that  dragged  me  into  the  Pit  :  thou  didft  take  off 
the  Weight  that  lay  over  me  ^  thou  didft  fcatter 
thofe  Enemies  that  bore  down  fb  hard  upon  me, 
and  expofe  thy  felf  to  their  Force  and  Malice  in 
my  Defence  and  Stead. 

Thou  haft  calFd  me  by  a  new  Name,  a  Title  of 
Difiiri6tion  and  great  Significance,  a  Name  derived 
from  thy  own  •,  and,  v/hen  I  was  bent  and  bowed 
down  v/ith  a  Spirit  of  Infirmiity,  didft  make  me 
ftraight,  and  enable  me  to  look  up  to  Thee  with  aij 
ierect  Countenance.  Thou  fpeakeft  Comfort  to  me^ 

U  5  and 


500  M  E  D  i   T  A  T  ]  O  N  S, 


and  faidft,  "  Be  of  good  courage,  I  have  redeemed 
'^  thee  ^  fear  not  death,  1  have  laid  down  my  life  for 
'•  thee  :  If  thou  abide  ftedfafi:  with  me,  thou  fhalt 
"  efcape  the  miferies  1  o  v/hich  thou  wert  obnoxious, 
"  thou  flialt  not  be  fwallowed  up  in  the  pit  whi- 
'^  ther  thou  wert  finking  apace  •,  but  I  will  pluck 
'*  thee  back,  and  bring  thee  to  my  Kingdom,  fhew 
"  thee  the  face  of  God,  make  thee  an  Heir  of 
^*^  Him,  and  Joint-heir  with  my  felf  in  everlafling 
''  Glory.  From  thenceforth  haft  thou  taken  me, 
my  Lord,  into  thy  gracious  protection  and  particu- 
lar care,  that  nothing  now  can  hurt  my  Soul  with- 
out its  own  confent.  And  which  is  yet  more,  tho' 
I  have  not  hearkened  to  th}^  counfel  as  I  ought,  in 
cleaving  to  thee  ftedfafthr.yeth^ft  not  thou  given 
me  over,  nor  fuffered  rriC  to  fall  into  the  Hell  I 
have  deferved  •,  but  according  to  thy  abundant  for- 
bearance and  goodnefs^  waitefl:  ftill  for  my  amend- 
ment, lill  I  fnall  do  my  duty  better,  and  qualify 
my  felf  for  receivirg  th}^-  gracious  promifes. 

This,  bleffcd  Lord,  is  a  m.oft  true  Reprefenta- 
tion  of  my  unrpeakable  Mifery,  and  cf  thy  mar- 
vellous Mercy.  I  fat  in  Darknefs,  becaufe  ut- 
tevlj  ignorant  both  of  my  felf,  and  every  thing 
that  could  be  uf(  ful  for  me  to  know  •  I  was  in 
Danger  perpetual!}'',  and  upon  the  Brink  of 
Deftrudion,  by  rtafon  of  that  Frailt}"  and  Weak- 
nefs  which  expofedme  to  Sinning  every  Mcnient. 
I  was  finking  into  Hell,  having  even  in  my  firit 
Parents  fallen  fiom  Righteoufnefs  to  Difobedi- 
ence,  (which  is  the  fteep  Defcent  into  that  bottom- 
lefs  Pit)  and  from  a  State  of  Innocence  and  Hap- 
pinefs,  into  temporal  iiiit,  and  from  thence  into 
eternal  Mifery.  The  Weight  of  original  Corrup- 
tion dragg'd  me  down,  and  the  Dread  of  thy  Judg- 
ment, like  a  heavy  Load,  made  it  impoliible  for 
me  to  rife,  or  bear  up  under  it.  The  Devils,  thofe 
Adveriaries  cf  Souls,  aflaulted  me  continually 
with  their  Temptations^  and  did  their  utmoft  to 

make 


MEDITATIONS.  301 


make  my  Condemnation  flill  more  fureand  infup- 
portable,  by  urging  me  to  add  Sin  to  Sin.  And 
yet  in  this  deftitute  Condition,  when  there  was 
neither  Help  nor  Hope,  the  Son  of  Righteoufnefs 
was  pleafed  to  fliine  upon  me,  and  difcover  me  to 
my  felf.  Nay,  even  then,  when  I  was  not  in  a  ca- 
pacity of  knowing  my  wretched  Circumftances, 
thou  madeft,  firft  Others  for  me,  and  by  degrees 
my  Sell  fenfible  of  them  •,  and  herein  didft  prevent 
my  own  Defire.  The  Mill-Stone  hung  about  my 
Neck,  and  the  Weight  that  prefTed  me  down  thou 
didft  remove,  and  beat  off  the  Enemies  that  la- 
boured m}^  Deftruction,  by  obftruding  the  evil 
Confequences  of  that  Sin  in  which  I  was  concei- 
ved and  born,  remitting  the  Guilt  of  it,  guard- 
ing my  Soul  againft  adlual  TranfgreiTions,  and 
repelling  the  Violence  of  them  that  fought  my 
Life.  Thou  haft  made  me  a  Chriftian,  and  called 
me  after  thy  own  Name  ^  a  Name  by  which  I  pro- 
fefs  my  felf,  and  thou  acknowledgeft  me  for  thy 
Own,  one  of  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  ^  and,  from 
forbid  Objects,  and  fenfual  Defires,  thou  haft  ex- 
alted my  Heart  to  the  knowledge  and  love  of 
Thee  and  thy  Truth.  Thou  haft  inipired  me  with 
a  comfortable  and  holy  Hope,  that  this  Soul  of 
mine  ftiall  not  perifh,  for  which  thou  haft  conde- 
fcended  to  pour  out  thy  own  Soul  unto  Death, 
thou  haft  promised  me  a  Portion  and  Inheritance 
in  thy  Glory,  provided  I  fincerely  follow  and 
obey  thee.  And,  though  I  have  not  done  this 
as  I  ought,  but  walked  unworthy  of  my  Profef- 
lion,  and  been  guilty  of  many  and  grievous  Offen- 
fences  againft  Thee,  contrary  to  thy  exprefs  Com- 
mands, and  the  Dictates  of  my  own  Confcience  • 
yet  ftill  thou  forbeareft  to  executeyengeance,that 
I  may  bethink  my  felf,  and  take  better  Courfes, 
and  at  laft  attain  to  thy  gracious  Promifes, 


CHAP, 


^o2  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.     VII. 

LA  Y  this  ferioiiflj  to  heart,  my  Soul,  ^/A  all 
that  is  within  me,  obferve  how  much  L>e 
"Whole  of  what  I  am  is  indebted  to  fb  merciful  a 
Saviour.  It  is  mofi:  evident,  O  Lord,  that  I  owe  my 
felf  entirely  toThee,becaufe  I  am  thine  by  Creati- 
on ^  I  owe  my  felf  entirely  to  thee,  becaufe  I  am 
thine  by  Redemption  ♦,  I  owe  my  felf  again  entire- 
ly to  thee,  becaufe  my  being  and  all  the  hopes  and 
comforts  of  it  depend  upon  thy  large  and  precious 
Promifcs,  which  fhould  I  fail  to  attain,  iDfinitely- 
better  were  it  for  m.e  never  to  have  been  at  all  : 
Nay,  I  owe  to  fuch  wonderful  Love  as  maich  more 
than  my  felf  as  Thou  art  greater  and  better  than 
Me  •,  than  Me,  for  whom  not  withfianding  thou  haft 
given  thy  felf,and  to  whom  thou  halt  promifed  th)^ 
felf.  Grant,  me,  I  befeech  thee,  good  Lord,  the 
grace  and  happinefs  to  tafte  the  fweetnefs  of  thy 
mercy  by  Love,  which  I  tafte  already  by  Know- 
ledge ^  let  me  feel  that  which  as  yet  I  underftand 
and  believe  only.  I  owe  thee,  'tis  true,  more  than 
my  felf  •,  but  I  am  not  able  to  pay  thee  any  more 
than  my  felf  ^  and  what  I  have  1  cannot  pay  thee 
of  my  felf.  Allift  me  therefore  with  th}^  Grace, 
draw  me  that  I  may  run  after  thee,  faften  me  with 
the  Cords  of  thy  Love  •  and,  as  I  am  already  up- 
on fo  many  Accounts  thy  own,  fo  make  me  thy 
own  alfo  by  Liclinatjon  and  Affection. 

Behold,  O  Lord,  my  heart,  and  all  its  deiires  are 
before  thee  ^  thou  feeft  what  endeavours  it  makes, 
but  withal,how  feeble  and  incffedual  all  its  ftrug- 
glings  are,  when  left  to  his  own  impotence.  Do 
thou  therefore  do  that  for  me,  v/hicii  I  am  not  in  a 
Condition  to  do  for  my  felf.  Admit  me  into  the 
fecrets  of  thy  love.  /  ask^  I fi^K  I^^'^^och  Thou 
that  difpofeft  me  to  asl^  grant  my  requefts  •  Thou 
that  enableft  me  tofeck^  let  me  fnd  ,  Thou  that 

com^ 


MEDITATIONS.  :jo3 

commandeft  and  teacheft  me  to  knock,  open  to  my 
importunity.  Whom  wilt  tliou  give  unto,  if  he 
that  asJzedhe  denied  ?  Who  can  expedl  to  firid^  if  he 
that  feeh  be  difappointed?  To  whom  will  the  door 
he  opend.i^it  continue  fhut  againft  them  that  knock? 
Wh^at  wilt  thou  grant  to  them  that  pray  not  at 
all,  if  thou  refufe  them  that  pra}^  moft  earneft- 
ly  ?     The  very  defire  of  obtaining  is  thy  Gift-, 

0  let  me  obtain  the  thing  which  thou  haft  made 
me  to  defire  •,  Preferve  then,  my  Soul,  and  hold 
thy  Lord  faft,  and  let  him  not  go,  till  thy  impor- 
tunity prevail  upon  him  to  blefs  thee.  O  graci- 
ous God,  O  deareft,  kindeft  Saviour,  caft  not  out 
my  Soul.  It  faints  with  hunger,  and  languifhes 
with  defire,  do  thou  fuftain  and  refrefti  it  ^  let 
thy  love  fatisfy,  and  fatten,  and  fill  it  •,  let  this 
diffufe  it  ftlf  throughout  the  whole  frame,  and 
take  and  keep  pofieiiion  of  every  part  of  me  :  that 

1  m^ay  be  intirely  Thine  now,  and  Thou  entirely 
Mine  hereafter  •,  Who  with  the  Father  and  thle 
Holy  Ghoft,  liveft  and  reigneft  One  only  God 
blefled  for  evermore.     Amen, 


St, 


?o5 


St.  ANSEL  M 

Of  the  Mifery  of  Man^  in  the 
Pcrfjn  of  a  (orroivfd  Siumr 
deploring  his  otpu  Coiidi'^ 
tion. 

BOOK  VI. 


Cannot  loot  upon  my  paft  life  without  hor- 
rour.  For,  when  nicely  examined,  it  fhews 
me  nothing  but  Sin  or  Barrennefs,  and  all 
|Tiy  Days  hitherto  feem  to  have  been  confumed, 
in  living  vicioufiy,  or  living  to  no  purpofe.  Or 
if  in  the  midft  of  this  general  corruption  there  be 
fcatteredforr.efew  Inftances  of  profitable  Actions, 
yet  even  Thefe  give  me  confufion  too.  For  how 
beautiful  and  commendable  fcever  they  may  ap- 
pear outwardly,  yet,  upon  a  clofer  view,  I  can  ea- 
liiy  difcover  fo  much  laboured  hypocrify,fo  great 
an  allay  of  imperfection,  and  fo  many  other  ble- 
mifhes  of  feveral  kinds,  as  will  not  fufter  me  to 
think  they  can  pleafe  and  deferve  to  be  approved, 
tut  incline  me  rather  to  dread  their  difpleallng, 
and  being  rcjedled  by  a  Holy  and  All-feeing  God. 
And  is  this  the  beft  account  that  finful  Man  can 
give  of  himfelf,  that  all  his  adtions  have  been  ei- 
ther vicious  and  dam.nable  ^  or  at  leaft  fruitlefs  and 

vain, 


3o6  MEDITATIONS. 

vain,  and  fo  defpicable  and  of  no  efFecl  ?  But 
why  do  I  make  this  Diftindlion  between  a  vain 
and  unprofitable,  and  a  damnable  Courfe  of  Life  ? 
For  furely  if  a  Man's  Converfation  be  the  One,  it 
is  as  certainly  the  Other  too.  SoTruthit  felf  hath 
declared,  that  not  only  evil  Fruit,  but  no  Fruit 
at  all  ^  not  only  the  corrupt,  but  barren  Tree, 
Ihall  be  condemned  to  everlafting  Flames  ^  for 
Match  7  -^^^  ^^  ^^^^  Importance  of  that  Saying,  Every 
i^^  Tree  that  hrivgeth  jtot  forth  good  Fnih^   is  hejrn 

down^  and  cajl  Into  the  Fire, 

Again,  if  I  do  an}^  thing  that  is  ufeful,  jtt  of 
what  value  and  confequence  is  it,  or  what  pro- 
portion does  it  bear  to  the  worth,  even  of  that 
bodily  fuftenance,  and  thofe  outward  comforts, 
that  I  continually  fubfill  upon,  and  frequently 
abufe  >  And  what  Matter  is  fo  imprudently  pro- 
fufe,  to  keep  thofe  Beafi:s,whofe  Service  does  not 
anfwer  the  Expence  of  their  Feeding  ?  Yet  fo  in- 
dulgent is  my  Lord  and  Mafter  :  For  Thou,  O 
merciful  God,  extended:  thy  CompaiTion  and  Boun- 
ty to  Me,  beareft  with  thy  unprofitable  Servant, 
and  doft  not  only  wait  till  he  may  make  a  happy 
change,  and  become  ufeful  •  but  wilt  not  caft  him 
out,  though  his  Sins  have  rendered  him  even  odi- 
ous and  loathfome  in  thy  Sight.  For  the  Stench 
of  no  Carcafs  is  more  offenlive  to  Men,  than  a 
Soul  dead  and  putrify'd  with  Sins,  is  to  Al- 
mighty  God. 

O  wretched  Man  that  I  am  !  But  why  do  I  ar- 
rogate to  my  felf  that  Name,  who  am  no  longer  a 
Man,  but  the  Scorn  and  Scandal  of  my  Species  ^ 
more  vile  than  the  Beafts  that  perifh,  mere  filthy 
and  noifome,  than  a  Carcafs  already  perifhed  ? 
My  Soul  is  perplexed  and  o'erwhelm'd  with  trou- 
ble. Life  is  grown  a  Burden  to  me  •,  T  am  afhamed 
to  go  on  in  it  ^  I  am  horribly  afraid  to  go  out  of 
it.  And  till  the  Time  comes  that  I  mufl  do  fo, 
Xhp  only  thing  tluit  fccms  left  for  mc  to  do,  is  to 

beftow 


M  ED  I  T  A  T  I  O  N  S.  507 


beftow  the  whole  of  it  in  lamenting  the  whole  of 
it :  that  fo,  as  every  Day  adds  to  m}^  Gnilt  and 
Mifery,  everv  Day  may  likevnfe  be  emploj^ed  in 
bewailing  the  Sins  and  Miferies  of  it  felf,  and  of 
every  other  Day. 

Now,  tho'  in  reafon  thus  I  ought  to  do,  yet  this 
moft  prodigious,  moft  deplorable  Cirrumftance,  is 
an  aggravation  to  all  my  other  Miferies,  that  I 
cannot  work  up  my  Soul  to  a  Degree  of  Sorrow, 
fuitable  to  the  knowledge  fhe  has  of  her  own 
"Wretchednefs  -,  but,  in  the  midft  of  Dangers  and 
Difeafes,  Stupidity  hath  feiz'd  her,  and  a  profound 
Security  ^  as  if  fhe  either  had  no  Sufferings  to  be- 
wail, or  at  leaft  had  no  Senfe  of  any.  But,  O 
barren  and  unprofitable  Creature,  what  Sloth, 
what  dead  Sleep  is  this,  that  locks  up  all  thy  pow- 
ers >  Behold  !  the  Day  of  Judgment  approacheth, 
the  great  Day  of  the  Lord  is  nigh  at  hand,  it  flies 
fwiftly  toward  thee.and  will  furely  overtake  thee, 
even  the  day  of  vevgeaiice  and  fierce  anger  ^  a  day  ofzt^h  i: 
trihitlation  and  dijirefs^  and  a  day  of^vafinefi  and  de-  i4,i5>  «^* 
folation^  a  day  of  darhiefs  and  ofgloominefs^  a  day  of 
clouds  and  thick  darhiefs  •,  a  day  of  the  Tnmpet  ajid 
Alarm.  O  !  how  bitter  is  the  found  ^  how  terri- 
ble is  the  Surprize  of  this  Day  of  the  Lord  !  Up 
then,  wh3r  fleepeft  thou,  O  lukewarm  and  naufe- 
ous  Creature  !  Awake,  and  fhake  ofFthy  Slumber, 
for  furely  He  who  is  not  rouzed,  who  does  not 
tremble  at  the  loud  Thunder  of  thefeThreatnings, 
can  fleep  no  other  Sleep  but  that  of  Death.  Ex- 
amine thy  felf,  unprofitable  Tree,  and  produce 
thy  fruits.  Where,  where,  thou  withered  ungraci- 
ous Stock,  fit  for  the  Axe  and  the  Fire,  ready  to 
be  hewn  down,  and  burnt  to  Aflies  ^  where  is  thy 
growth,and  what  canfl:  thou  fhew  for  cumbring  the 
ground  fo  long,  what  canft  thou  plead  inbar,why 
the  fentence  of  utter  deflrucHon  Ihbuld  not  at  laft 
take  place  upon  thee  ?  Nothing  hath  all  this  while 

fprung 

t 


^c8 M  E  D  1    1^  A  T  I  O  N  S. 

fprung  out  of  thee,  tut  fharp  Thorns  and  bitter 
Sins.  And  O  that  thofc  Thorns  would  fo  prick 
thy  Heart,  as  to  produce  Compunction  and  Re- 
pentance ^  O  that  thofe  Sins  were  fo  bitter  to 
thee  in  the  remembrance,  that  thou  mayeft  ever 
naufeate,  and  never  commit  them  any  more  ! 

And  what  can  be  the  Reafon  why  everv  one  of 
them  fhould  not  be  bitter  to  thee  ?  Perhaps  thou 
thinkeft  fome  Sins  fo  fmall,  as  not  to  be  worth  thy 
concern :  Well  were  it  for  thee,  if  the  righteous  and 
all-feeing  Judge  would  proceed  with  thee  at  the 
laft  Day  by  the  fame  Meafures.  But  be  affured, 
how  fecure  foever  thy  Confcience  may  be,  when 
deluded  with  thefe  falfe  Eftimations,  yet  He,whofe 
JudgT.ent  miifl:  conclude  us  to  all  eternit3%accounts 
no  lin  fmall,  that  affronts  his  Majefty,  by  dealing 
treacherouily  with  him,  and  ading  in.defpight  of 
his  Laws.  And  what  Offence  then  can  the  wretch- 
ed Sinner  find,  which  he  can  have  the  confidence 
to  think  or  call  a  little  one  ?  Can  it  ever  be  a  fmall 
thing  to  diflionour  God,  and  contemn  his  Autho- 
rity ?  O  no  !  deceitful  Extenuations  cf  thy  Guilt 
will  avail  nothing/Tis  m.anifeft  how  dry  and  fap- 
lefs,  how  barren  and  unferviceable  a  Trunk  thou 
art  ^  and  confeqaently  how  far  from  being  in  any 
condition  of  anftvering  for  thy  felf  in  that  Day, 
when  God  fhail  call  thee  to  a  ftri^t  Account  for 
the  time,  for  every' talent  bellowed  uponthee^and 
expe6l  fome  Improvement,  or  reckon  with  thee 
for  the  mifemployment  of  them  all. 

"Whatever  fhall  upon  this  balance,  be  then  found 
«pon  thee  of  Sin  and  Vanity,  whether  in  thy  Acti- 
ons, or  thy  Words,  nay,  or  even  in  thy  filent  and 
moll-  fecretThoughts,  all  that  fhall  be  condemned  ; 
And  ev'ry  day  and  hour  laid  to  thy  charge,  which 
was  not  directed  to  the  fervice  and  obedience  of 
thy  God,  who  entrufted  thee  with  them.  But 
oh  the  difmal  fight,  the  unconceivable  numbers  of 
unremembred,  unknown,  unfufpedted  Sins,  that 

Ihall 


MEDITATIONS.  309 


fhall  rufli  out  upon  thee,    like  Enemies  from  an 
Ambulh,  which  thou  wert  not  the  leaft  aware  of ! 
Man7,too  many,  alas !  and  too  formidable  are  thofe 
thou  feeft  already-, but  many  more  to  be  fure  there 
are,  and  perhaps  fuch  too  as  are  more  terrible  and 
confounding,  which  hitherto  have  efcaped  thy  Ob- 
fervation.     Some  things,  that  thou  doft  not  think 
to  have  any  hurt  at  all  in  them  ^  nay,  Others  that 
thou  miftakeft  for  commendable  and  good,  fhall 
then  appear  of  a  quite  different  Complexion,  and 
fcare  thee  with  a  Guilt  as  black  as  Hell.     Then  is 
the  time  of  receiving  according  to  what  thou  haft 
done  in  thy  Body  •,   then  Ihall  the  Seafon  of  for- 
bearance expire  ^    and  Mercy,  fo  greatly  abufed, 
fo  long  extended  in  vain,  fhall  give  place  tojuftice, 
and  fpeedy  execution  of  Vengeance.    Think  then 
here,  while  that  Thought  may  do  thee  good,  what 
Recorapencethou  art  like  to  receive  at  that  Day. 
If  upon  enqujr}^,  thou  find  thy  good  Actions  many, 
and  thy  bad  ones  fevv,  rejoyce  and  be  thankful 
for  the  Riches  of  divine  Grace,  which  hath  made 
tliee  an  Inftrument  of  thy  Matter's  honour,and  thy 
own  Salvation.  But  if  thou  find,  as  find  I  fear  thou 
wilt,that  t hy Tranfgreilions  have  been  vaftly  great 
and  many,  and  th}^  vertues  but  very  few,let  thy  la- 
mentations and  fighs  be  likewife  manjr,  and  thy 
forrow  for  iin  proportionably  great.  Arenotthefe 
conliderations  fufficient  to  make  thy  very  Heart- 
ftrings  cr::ck,  and  even  to  diifolve  thy  whole  mafs 
of  Blood  into  Tears  of  Repentance  >    How  prodi- 
gioufljr  hard  is  the  flint  of  that  heart,  which  fuch 
jiammers  are  rot  able  to  break  ?    How  ftupid  and 
loft  to  all  Senfe,  which  thefe  fharp  Goads  cannot 
pierce  ?    How  fatally  profound  that  Sleep  which 
thefe  loud  Claps  of  Thunder  cannot  drive  away  > 
Thefe  melanchoUy  Refiedions  Ihouldhave  power 
enough,  not  only  to  open  a  PafTage  for  thy  Tears, 
but  to  keep  them  perpetually  flowing,  and  make 
them  tliine,  as  they  were  once  the  Prophet  s  w^^rt  pfii.  42, 
and  drink  day  and  7i2^ht,  Great 


:?io  MEDITATIONS. 


Gtcat  rQafoii  certainly  there  is,  why  thou 
fhould'ft  make  them  Co.  For  what  can  it  profit 
thee  to  difiembie  the  matter,by  either  wholly  con- 
cealing,or  craftily  extenuating  the  greatnefs  and 
weight  of  that  Mifery,  which  like  a  heavy  Load, 
lies  upon  thy  Confcience  •,  and,  if  not  feen  and 
early  prevented,  will  furely  break  upon  thee  in 
endlefs  and  irretrievable  Beftrudion  >  Will  the 
furprize  of  thy  fufFerings  be  any  abatement  ?  Will 
not  that  be  the  mofi:  dreadful  Aggravation  indeed, 
and  render  thy  anguifh  fo  much  the  more  infap- 
portable  ?  It  never  can  be  advifeable  for  a  Sinner 
to  fhut  his  Eyes,  and  plunge  himfelf  blindfold  in- 
to that  Ruin,  which  a  timely  fore-fight  of  might 
have  deliver'd  him  from.  Men  ought  not  to  be 
flatter 'd  in  this  Cafe,  nor  think  their  unhappy 
Circumftances  exaggerated  b}''  the  moft  frightful 
Reprefentations  that  can  be  given  of  them.  For  be 
afTured,  that  Experience  will  convince  thee,  when 
it  is  too  late,  how  far  it  is  pafc  the  power  of  words 
to  exprefs,  or  come  near  to  the  deplorable  miferies, 
that  fhall  one  day  overtake  the  hardened  and  impe- 
nitent. Lefl  this  then  fhould  be.  thy  own  Cafe, 
open  thine  Eyes  my  Soul,  and  let  them  overflow 
■U'ith  tears  of  godly  forrow.  Force  thy  felf  to  fee 
and  hear  the  danger  of  thy  Condition.  Make 
thy  anguifh  yet  more  cutting,  be  yet  more  a- 
fraid,  tremble  at  the  apprehenfions  of  an  angry 
God,  and  howl  over  the  Calamities,  which  thou 
hafl  brought  upon  thy  felf.  Confider,  not  only 
that  thou  Ihalt  be  judged,  but  who  it  is  that  muft 
judge  thee.  Even  He,  who  hath  declared  him- 
felf jealous  of  his  Honour,  and  whofe  Majefty  is 
dared  and  afrronted  by  every  wilful  violation  of 
his  Law  •,  even  Ele,  who  hath  recompenced  thee 
Good  for  Ea^I,  but  to  whom  Thou  in  return  haft 
paid  negled  and  hatred,  for  his  unwearied  kind- 
nefs  and  bounty  ^  even  He,  who  is  now  full  of 
patience  and  forbearance,  merciful  and  gracious, 

but 


MEDITATIONS.  511 

but  whofhall  then  be  a  ftrid  examiner  of  all  thy 
A6lions,  and  a  juft  avenger  of  all  thy  Infblence 
and  bafe  Ingratitude.  * ':.-  ^ ; 

O  wretched  Man  !  whom  have  I  finned  againft  > 
I  have  difhonoured  the  great  God,  I  have  provo- 
ked and  armed  againft  m}''  felf  the  vengeance  of 
the  Almighty.  O  what  have  I  done  !  to'  whom 
have  I  done  it '  How  great  >vas  my  folly,  and  how 
unpardonable  my  fault  ?  Unpardonable,  if  confi- 
der'd  in  it  felf  ^  but,  O  my  God,let  not  thy  Indig- 
nation and  fury  of  th]?-  almighty  Hand  be  poured 
out  upon  me  !  "Who  can  fuftain  the  wrath  of  an 
omnipotent  Being  ?  Who  can  ftand  againft  thy 
thunder  ?  Thefe  very  diftant  Profpecls  of  it  a- 
maze  and  utterly  confound  me.  But  Oh  !  how 
unconceivable,  how  intolerable  will  be  the  per- 
plexities and  horrors  of  that  difmal  Day  :  when 
on  the  one  hand  I  fhall  fee  Sins  innumerable  ac- 
cufing  me  •  en  the  other,  Juftice  inexorable  dif- 
mayingme  •  beneath,  a  lake  of  liquid  and  eternal 
fire  gaping  to  receive  me  •,  above,  an  incenfed 
Judge  ready  to  pronounce  an  irreverjfible  Sentence 
upon  me  •  within,  a  guilty  Confcience  reproach- 
ing me  ;  without,  a  World  in  flames,  kindled  by 
the  breath  of  an  angry  God.  Then  fhall  the 
righteous  fcarcely  befaved  •,  Lnt  where ^  ah  !  where  ,  pg^  . 
Jljall  the  imgodly  and  the  jinner^  already  felf-con-  i8.  * 
demned  appear  ^  Where,  where  indeed  ftiall  I 
appear  ?  Or  where  fhall  I  hide  my  felf,  and  e- 
fcape  from  that  appearance  >  The  Jjatter  is 
impolfible,  the  Former  infupportable.  This  Judg^ 
ment  I  fhould  wifh  above  all  things  to  decline, 
but  there  is  no  flielter  from  it  to  be  found  •  to  be 
brought  to  it  I  fhould  dread  and  deteft,  but  if  I 
betake  my  felf  to  flight,  the  Eyes  of  God  will  foon 
difcover  me,  and  his  vengeance  and  my  fins  pur- 
file  me  every  where. 

In  this  deplorable  extremity  what  will  become 
of  me  ?    Who  can  deliver  me  out  of  the  Hanfls  of 

X  ^ '  this 


312  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  ONS. 


this  God  ?  What  meafurcs  can  I  take,  or  who  will 
be  my  Defence  >    Is  there  not  one,  who  is  call'd 
j^jjI.  5    J.  the  Avgel  of  the  Covenant  ?  the  Saviour,  and  mighty 
'Deliverer  ?  Upon  his  name  I  will  call  aloud  ^  Je- 
fus,  the   bleffed  Jefits.     This,  this  is  He,  the 
Judge  at  whom  I  tremble,  but  the  Saviour  in 
whom  I  truft  too.     Look  up  then.  Sinner,  and  be 
comforted  •,  look  up,  and  fink  not  in  defpair  :  Let 
this  Charadter  revive  thee,and  allay  thy  fears  with 
a  cordial  mixture  of  hopes  •,  lince  thefame  perfon 
is  the  proper  Object  both  of  thy  hopes  and  fears. 
Flee  to  him  in  one  Capacity,  whom  thou  would'ft 
wifh  to  flee  from  in  another.    Pour  out  thy  heart 
before  him,  for  he  is  thy  hope  ^  and  cry  aloud, 
perfevere  in  prayer,  and  let  thy  humble  fupplica- 
tions  take  no  denyal  ^  as  rhy  proud  contempts  and 
provocations  of  him  have  known  no  meafure.     O 
^ejiis,  Jefiis,  by  this  moft  blefled  name  I  beg,  that 
thou  would'ft  deal  with  me  according  to  the  im- 
portance of  this  name.     For  this  is  a  name  full  of 
love,  full  of  delight,  full  of  comfort,  and  holy  con- 
fidence to  every  linner,  that  takes  fanduary  in  it. 
For  what  does  ^efus  fignify  but  a  Saviour  >  and 
why  didft  thou  take  that  name  upon  thee  but  to 
declare  that  thou  wouldft  make  it  good  to  the  utter- 
moft,  by  fa\dng  thy  people  from  their  fins  >    For 
thy  own  fake  I  implore  thee  to  be  my  jfefus  in- 
deed :     Thou  haft  created  me,  deftroy  not  then 
the  work  of  thine  own  hands.  Thou  haft  redeemed 
me,  do  not  caft  away  the  purchafe  of  thy  own 
precious  blood.  Let  thy  goodnefs,  I  befeech  thee, 
triumph  over  my  wickednefs,  and  whom  the  for- 
mer gave  a  Being  to,  fufFer  not  the  latter  fo  to 
prevail  upon,  that  it  fnould  have  been  better  for 
me  never  to  have  been  at  all.     My  Iniquities,  I 
confefs,  are  many  and  grievous,  yet  do  they  ad- 
mit both  of  number  and  meafure  •,  thy  goodnefs 
and  thy  power  know  no  bounds  •,  and  therefore  I 
befeech  thee,  by  all  the  paft  demonftrations  of  thy 

Love 


MEDITATIONS.  ?i? 

I  I  .III  ■       ■ 

Love  and  Condefcenfion,  as  thy  Majefty  is  in  it 
felf,  fo  let  thy  Mercy  be  to  Me,  infinite.  Re- 
member, Lord,  that  I  am  thine,  lofe  not  thy  own 
property  :  See  what  is  in  me  that  belongs  to  Thee, 
and  gracioufly  accept  it :  See  what  there  is  derived 
from  any  other  hand,  and  purge  it  quite  away, 
that  I  may  be  wholly  thine.  Mercy,  flveet  Jefus^ 
Mercy,  before  the  feafon  of  Mercy  be  paft  :  bring 
me  not  intojudgmenttobe  glorified  in  my  condem- 
nation, for  what  profit  is  there  hi  my  bloody  if  I  be  Pfa'.  go2 
thntft  into  the  pit  of  everlafihig  deJlriiBlGJi  ?  The9' 
Dead  praife  not  thee^  0  Lord^  neither  all  they  that  ^1'^^^' 
go  down  into  hell.  If  thou  enlarge  the  bowels  of 
thy  Mercy,  they  will  not  be  one  whit  the  more 
ftreightned  to  others,  for  taking  in  this  trembling 
Penitent.  Admit  me  therefore,  O  thou  Defire  of 
my  Soul,  receive  this  wandring  loft  Sheep  into 
thy  bofome  •,  and  7nake  yne  to  be  niimbred  with  thy 
Saints  in  glory  everlafting.  So  Ihall  I  join  with 
Them  in  conforts  of  Praife; :  So  Ihall  I  enjoy  thee, 
delight  in  thee,  and  make  my  boaft  of  thy  mer- 
cy, with  thofe  that  love  thy  name.  Even  thine, 
O.  deareft,  kindeft  Saviour  -,  who,  together  with 
the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  art  worfhipped 
and  glorified,  ever  one  God  World  without  end, 
jifnen. 


t  St, 


315 


St  ANSEL  Ms 

Incentive  to  Holy  Love : 

O   R, 

Meditations  upon  the  Pailion  of 
our  L  O  R  a 


BOOK  Vlf. 


CHAP.    L 

Jhe  Benefit  of  ohfervtng  and  reverencing  ow\ 
Lord  in  hu  State  of  Humiliation. 

CM  E,  and  let  us  pay  Divine  Honours  to 
Jefus  o^  Nazareth '^  nor  let  it  abate  of  our 
Devotion,  that  the  yews  condemned,  and 
that  the  GeittUes  crucified  him,  iince  we,  who  are 
Chriftians,  know  alTuredlj,  that  his  Innocence 
was  unblemifhei,  his  Perfecution  moft  injurious, 
and  his  Sufferings  in  no  degree  deferved  by  him^ 
We  therefore,  who  not  only  call  our  felves,  but 
really  are  the  Servants  of  Chrift,  muft  think  that 
Charader  obliges  us  to  look  with  Reverence  and 
Attention  upon  his  loweftCondefceniions,to  em-* 
brace  even  our  defpifed  and  afflided  Mafter,  with 
the  tendereft  affedtion  ^  and  efteemit  our  duty ,oui: 
advantage,  nay,  our  honour,  to  tread  in  his  fteps, 

X  5  and 


3x6  MEDITATION  S. 

and  conftantly  endure  whateverGod  fhall  lay  upon 
us,  in  order  to  conforming  us  to  the  Image  of  that 
Son,  whom  he  hath  made  our  Pattern.  For  his 
Sufferings  are  the  powerful  InftrumentSjWhich  Al- 
mighty Power,  and  unfearchaLle  Wifdom  thought 
fit  to  ufe,  for  accomplifhing  the  nohlcft  Defign  of 
Providence.  And  how  can  we  fufficiently  admire 
the  mighty,  the  miraculous  efficacy,  which  did, 
and  ftill  continues  to  exert  it  felf,  in  the  rcftitu- 
tionof  a  loft  World,  hy  means,  in  appearance  fo 
weak,  in  their  own  nature  fo  exceeding  unfuitable 
to  the  End  accomplilhed  by  them  ?  But  what  a 
commanding  influence  ought  this  myfterious  work 
to  have  upon  our  hearts,  our  difpoiitions,  and  our 
manners,  and  how  ftrongly  Ihould  it  draw  our  af- 
fedions  and  praclife,  to  imitate  thofe  Graces  fo 
confpicuous  in  the  Perfon  of  our  Redeemer  ?  I  he 
LordChrift  was  made  lower  than  the  Angels,  who 
ii^y  mature  their  Creator  and  King  :  and  all  for 
Our  fakes,  that  We  who  are  by  nature  below  thofe 
Angels,  might  in  dignity  and  happinefs  be  exalted 
to  an  equality  with  them  :  And  can  any  of  Us 
think  much  to  humble  himfelf  at  the  command  and 
for  the  fervice  of  a  Mafter,  who  ftoop'd  fo  low 
for  our  advancement  >  The  Lord  Chrift  fubmitted 
to  be  crucified  for  our  fins,  and,by  the  bitter  things 
he  underwent, hath  fweetned  all  the  fufferings  and 
forrows  that  can  poifibly  fall  upon  them  that  love 
him.  He  dj^ed,  and  by  his  own  deatli  dcftroyed 
the  power  of  death,  that  we  might  live  through 
•Him.  Ar.d  Who,  that  confiders  this,  can  forbear 
loving  fo  gracious,  fo  great  a  Mafter,  as  Chrift  the 
Lord  ?  Who  would  decline  fuffering,  or  grudge 
any  degree  of  it,  for  His  fake,  cfpecially,  if  it  be 
rcmembred,  that  for  all  who  fufFer  with  and  for 
him,  is  referved  a  recompencc  like  that  attained 
hj  himfelf?  And  Chrift,  we  know,  made  the  pain 
and,  ignominy  of  the  crofs  upon  Earth  a  pafiage  to 
the  biifs  and  glory  of  his  Throne  in  Heaven.  The 

volun- 


MEDITATIONS.  517 

voluntary  fubmiirion  and  conftant  duty  paid  toGod 
the  Father  by  him  was  rewarded  with  all  power  in  Match.  28. 
Heaven  and  in  Earth,     He  who  was  once  defpifed  a7id  ^^' 
rejected  of  Men^  is  vow  adored  by  Angels :  A71J  ^Heb  i  ^J. 
7ia?ne  is  given  iiytto  him  above  every  7ta7ne^  that  at  the  Phil.  2.  o, 
flame  of  Jefiis  every  knee  Jljoidd  bow,  both  of  things  in  io» 
heaven^  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earthy 


CHAP.     II. 

A  Chrijlian  hoajl  fhouldbe  in  a  cruciffd  Saviour^ 

LEt  then  the  carnal  and  the  worldly  minds  mak^ 
their  boaft  of  fuch  imaginary  advantages,  as 
are  agreeable  to  fenfual  Difpofitions  -^but  forThee 
who  art  a  Chrillian,  God  forbid,  that  Thou,  like 
Them  ihould  think  the  Crofs  of  Chrift  a  thing  to 
be  aihamed  of,  that  thou  fhou  ^  deft  not  glory  in  it, 
nay,  that  thou  fhouldeft  imagin  any  thing  belides 
can  be  matter  of  juft  glory  and  advantage  to  thee, 
but  only  the  name  of  thy  crucified  Lord  Chrift  Je- 
fus.  Make  thou  thy  boaft  then  in  that  name,  which 
is  above  every  name,  in  which  whofoever  is  bleffed 
tipon  Earth,  ftiall  be  bleffed  alfo  in  Heaven.  Let 
them  give  thanks  whom  the  Lord  hath  redeefned^jjCR^let  MI.  Jo?* 
them  ever  praife  his  holy  Name  :  O  come  and  let 
us  afcribe  due  honour  to  our  Saviour,  who  hath 
done  fo  great  things  for  us,  great  things  whereof 
we  do  and  ought  to  rejoyce.  Lift  up  your  hearts 
and  joyn  your  Voices,  ye  Children  of  Grace  and 
Redemption,  and  let  us  m.agnify  his  name  together, 
faying,  Ife  praife  thee,  we  blefs  thee,  we  glorify  thee^ 
we  give  thanh  to  thee  for  thy  great  glory,  O  Chrift, 
the-King  of  Ifrael^  the  light  of  the  Gentiles,  the 
Prince  of  all  the  Kings  of  the  Earth,  the  Lord  of 
Hofts,  the  Power  of  God  Almighty  in  its  utmoft 
ftrength  and  peifedtion.  We  worfliip  thee^  O  pre^ 

X  4  cious 


?i8  MEDITATIONS. 

cious  and  invaluable  ranfom  of  our  Souls,  O  our 
Peace,  and  moft  acceptable  Sacrifice,  who  bj  the 
fweet-fmelling  Savour  of  thy  Sin-Offering:,  didil 
incline  the  Father,  whofe  dwelling  is  on  high,  to 
caft  an  eye  of  pity  upon  the  viieft  of  his  Creatyres 
here  below,  and  didftopen  a  way  to  reconciliation 
for  the  Sons  of  "Wrath  and  Perdition.  We  pub- 
liih  the  praife  of  thy  Mercy,  O  bleffed  jefts,  and 
out  of  the  abundance  of  our  hearts  do  gratefully 
recount  the  fweetnefs  of  thy  love  •,  We  offer  unto 
thee  our  daily  facrifice  of  gratitude  and  glor}'',  for 
the  incomprehenfible  ex'^ellence  of  thy  Goodnefs, 
and  the  bowels  of  that  tender  and  unbounded 
CompafTion,  which  thou  haft  been  pleas'd  to  ex- 
tend to  a  moft  reprobate  and  ungracious  Seed,  a 
race  of  miferable  Wretches,  funk  in  Sin,  and  juft- 
ly  fentenced  to  deftrudion. 


CHAP.    III. 

Tke  Great  fiefs  of  God's  Mercy  toMa?ikinJ. 

FOR,  while  we  were  yet  Enemies  to  thee,  O 
Lord,  and  Rebels  to  thy  righteous  Govern- 
ment ^  while  Death  maintained  its  ancient  ufur- 
pation,  and  exercifed  a  moft  unjuft  and  mercilefs 
Tyrany  over  us :  (to  which  by  the  breach  of  our 
fir  ft  Parents  Covenant  all  the  Pofterity  of  Adain 
(  as  vertually  included,  and  finning  in  him,  had 
been  enflaved  )  even  in  this  miferable  State,  which 
had  nothing  to  merit  or  incline  thy  favour,  didft 
thou  remeiiiber  mercy  :  and,  from  thy  dwelling 
upon  thy  holy  hill  in  the  higheft  heavens,  look 
down  with  plenteous  compallion,  and  moft  amar 
zing  goodnefs,upon  this  valley  of  mifery  and  tears. 
Thou  faweft,  O  Lord,  the  afflidion  of  thy  peo- 
ple j  and  wert  fo  alfeded  with  the  difmal  ob jed:, 

that 


MEDITATIONS.  ^19 

that  thy  Bowels  founded,  and  the  immenlity  of  thy 
Love  yearned  towards  us  :  And,  from  the  inftant 
in  which  our  Sin  and  Mifery  commenced,  thou 
didft  apply  thy  Heart  to  thoughts  of  Peace,  and 
Kindneis,  and  Redemption  for  v.s.  Then  didft  thou 
lay  that  moft  ftupendous  Scheme,  which  Angek 
and  Men,  with  holy  aftonifhment,  continually  de- 
iire  to  look  into.  And,  though  the  Son  of  God, 
thy  felf  very  God,  of  the  fame  Subftance  and  E- 
ternity  with  God  the  Father  and  Holy  Ghoft, 
dwellhig  271  the  light  which  710  man  caji  approach  inito^  r  Tim.  6. 
and  npholdijig  all  things  by  the  word  of  thy  power  :  yet  ^^* 
didft  thou  not  difdain  to  be  confined  in  the  Prifon  ^^^*  '*  ^' 
of  a  mortal  Body,  to  ftoop  down  from  the  height 
ofMajefty,  and,  becoming  one  of  Us,  not  onljr 
to  tafte,  but  even  to  drink  up  the  very  Dregs  of 
our  bitter  Cup  ^  that  the  depth  of  thy  Mifery 
might  exalt  us  to  thy  Glory. 

The  exceeding  greatnefs  of  thy  Love  would  not 
content  it  felf  with  committing  the  Work  of  our 
Salvation  to  any  of  the  Cherubim  or  Seraphim- : 
Nor  wouldeft  thou  fend  the  moft  glorious  of  ihQ 
Angels  upon  this  Embaffy  of  Peace  and  Joy-  but 
didft  vouchfafe  to  come  in  Perfon,  and  finifh  with 
thy  own  Hands  the  Work  which  the  Father  gave 
thee  to  do  :  And  as  in  thy  acceptance,  fo  in  that 
delegation,  the  Love  of  God  to  Mankind  appeared 
incompreheniibly  great  ^  and  never  was  the  Fa- 
ther's tendernefs  fo  vilible,  as  when  refleded  on  us 
in  the  Perfon  of  his  Son.  But  as  the  motive,  fo  the 
manner  of  thy  coming  was  extraordinary.  For 
this  comiing  was  not  any  change  of  Place,  fo  as  to 
render  thee  abfent  or  prefent  where  thouwert  not 
fo  before  ^  but  it  was  only  a  Manifeftation  of  thy 
felf  to  theWorld,  and  rendring  us  feniible  of  that 
prefence  in  our  Flefti,  which  was  not  an  objedt  of 
our  Senfes  before.  Thou  didft  defcend  from  the 
Royal  Throne  of  the  Ma jefty  on  high,  into  the 
JV'omb  of  a  Virgin,  pure  and  meek,  and  lowly  in 

her 


320  MEDITATIONS. 


her  own  thought,  precious  in  thyEjes.  Inwhcfe 
holy  body  the  m3^fterious  and  inexplicable  power 
cf  the  Holy  Spirit,  without  the  operation  of  any 
other  Agent,  caafed  thee  to  be  conceived  and  born 
in  the  real  fubftance  of  humane  nature.  And  that 
in  fo  ftupendous  a  manner,  as  at  once  to  preferve 
the  Majefty  of  the  Divine  Nature  from  any  indig- 
nity, and  the  chaftity  of  thy  Virgin-Mother  from 
any  violation  -,  by  this  unexampled  method  of 
bringing  a  Man  into  the  World. 


CHAP.    IV. 

Of  the  Miferies  which  Gvd  took  upon  him  fjr 

Alankind, 


o 


Moil  engaging,  O  mofi:  aftonifhing  Conde- 
fcenfion  !  The  God  of  infinite  Glory  did 
'  not  refufe  to  become  a  defpicable  Worm ;  The 
Lord  of  all  the  World  was  pleafed  to  put  on  the 
form  of  a  Servant  \  and  ftoop  to  the  Condition  of 
the  meaneft  of  his  own  Servants.  Was  it  not  Ho- 
nour, was  it  not  Privilege  fufficient  for  us,  that 
thou  fhouldeft  be  our  Father,  and  moft  gracious 
Mafter,  but  wouldcfl:  thou  permit  thy  felf  to  b§ 
made  our  Brother  and  our  Fellow-Servant  ?  Nay, 
that  Thou,  who  pofTeffeth  all  things,  and  couldeft 
not  want  any  thing,  fhould'fi:  at  the  drawing  thy 
firft  breathvouchfafe  to  tafte  all  the  inconveniences 
of  poverty  and  contempt  ?  Hadfi:  thou  made  thy 
entrance  into  thy  own  world  with  all  the  pomp 
and  Hate  of  earthly  Princes,yet  even  thus  the  con- 
defcenfion  had  been  amazing  •,  but  the  Scripture 
acquaints  us,  that  when  thou  wert  born  there  was 
Lttke  2. 7.  '^^^  room  for  thee  iji  the  Inn  ^  no  Bed  or  Cradle  of 
State  to  receive  this  Infant  King,  and  repofe  his 
•  tender  body  in,  but  a  manger  and  a  Stable  only.  See 

then 


MEDITATIONS.  pi 

then  and  wonder ,Chrifl:ian,fee  thy  Lord  s  unfpeak- 
able  humility  •,  fee  this  ftrange  thing  which  came 
to  pafs  at  Bethlehem.  See  him,  who  hides  the  earth 
in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  wrapped  up  in  fwad- 
ling  clothes,  and   borrowing  even    from  brute 
beafts  a  room  to  lay  his  new-born  body  in.     Ob* 
ferve  this,  you  that  are  reduced  to  homely  Cot- 
tages, and  have  been  brought  up  in  all  the  ftraits 
of  a  mean  fortune  •,  take  comfort  even  from  your 
want,when  you  behold  your  God  fubmitting  to  all 
thefe  hardfliips,  which  are  fo  apt  to  provoke  your 
complaints  anddifcontent :  Your  God,  I  fay,  choo- 
ling  to  be  made  like  one  of  you,  taking  a  part  in 
all  your  poverty,  and  preferring  a  hard  and  coarfe 
Bed  before  the  pomps  and  delicacies  of  a  Palace, 
or  the  conveniences  of  them,  who  live  in  luxury 
and  eafe.     See  this,3''ou  Rich  and  proud,  that  va- 
lue yourfelves  upon  fumptuous  dwellings  and  gay 
furniture  •,  learn  what  an  Eftimate  you  ought  to 
make  of  painted  Roofs,  and  curious  Hangings, 
when  the  King  of  Kings  defpifed  thefe  Vanities, 
and  rather  chofe  to  grace  the  mattrices  and  ftraw 
of  the  poor,  by  making  fuch  his  lodging  ?     How 
can  you  with  fuch  a  haughty  difdain,  abhor  the 
meanefl:  provifions  of  this  kind,  when  that  young 
Prince,  who  had  all  things  in  his  power,  preferred 
a  Trufs  of  Straw,  and  a  Cratch  in  common  with 
Peaits,  before  your  Down,  and  all  your  Silks  and 
Velvets  ? 

But  neither  was  this  the  only  mark,  that  thou, 
my  Jefus,  cameft  into  the  World  on  purpofe  to 
fuffer  hardihip.  For  the  malice  of  men  was  im- 
mediately awaked,  and  armed  it  felf  againft  thee. 
Thy  life  fet  out  in  Perfecution,  and  was  no  fooner 
given,  than  endeavoured  to  be  taken  away.  The 
treacherous  refpedts  of  a  jealous  Tyrant  laid 
fnares  for  this  fuppofed  Rival  of  his  Crov/n  ^  and 
while  thou  wert  yet  hanging  at  thy  mothers  bieaft, 
the  fword  of  Herod  was  efcaped  by  flight  into  a 

ftrange 


322  MEDITATIONS. 


Match.  2.  ftrange  Country  :    For  lo,  a7t  Angel  of  the  Lord  ap" 
^ ''  peared  to  Jofeph  in  a  dream^  faying^  arffe  and  take  th^ 

\0Jin7  child  and  his  7nothe;\  and  flee  into  Egypt,  and 
be  thou  there  until  Ibrijtg  thee  word^for  Herod  will 
feek  the  young  child  to  deflroy  him.  So  foon  didft  thou 
commence  a  fufFering  Redeemer,  fo  foon  a  fufrer- 
er  ^  not  in  thy  Perfon  only,  but  in  the  members 
of  thy  rayftical  Body  too.  For  we  are  not  to  fup- 
pofe  that  the  troubles  brought  upon  thylnfancy, 
terminated  in  Thee  alone  :  No,  Thou  wert  per- 
fecuted  in  all  thefe  innocent  Babes,  fo  many 
thoufands  of  whom  were  barbaroufly  torn  from 
the  arms  of  their  Mothers,  and  upon  thy  account 
butchered  by  the  Sword  of  that  inhumane  Mon- 
fter,  Herod, 


CHAP.     V- 

The  Behaviour  of  Chrifl  fpom  his  Touth. 

W Hen  this  firft  State  of  life  was  ran,  thy  ten- 
der Years  began  with  fetting  us  early  but 
admirable  examples  of  Humility  and  Yertue.  For 
then  thou  didft  not,  like  the  giddy  and  headftrong 
I ,  I.  defpifers  of  Difcipline,  ftand  in  the  coiinfel  of  the 
wicked^  or  fit  ijt  the  feat  of  the  fccrnfiil^  but  wert 
found  in  the  Temple  at  twelve  3rears  old,  fitting 
•  in  the  midjl  of  the  Dolors,  hearing  them  and  askiiig 
them  queflions.  Not  for  thy  better  Information 
fure,  for  thou  art  the  fourceof  all  knowledge,  and 
the  very  Wifdom  of  God  the  Father,  and  couldeft 
not  be  taught  by  them  whom  thou  hadft  m.ade. 

Another  inftance  of  thy  condefcenfion  was  that 
pattern  of  Obedience,  which  thou  wert  pleafed  to 
fet  us,by  living  in  fabjedion  to  thyParents,tho'the 
whole  World  at  the  fame  time  was  fubjecl  to  Thee. 
Thus  didft  thou  pafs  thy  firft  and  tender  Years  in 
daily  repeated  inftances  of  humility,and  meeknefs, 

and 


MEDITATIONS.  525 


and  the  ftrldefl:  obfervarice  to  thofe,  who,  after 
the  flefli,  were  efteemed  thy  fiiperiours  ;  And 
vvouldeft  not  fufFer  any  of  thy  divine  Prerogatives 
to  exempt  thee  from  any  of  the  Offices  due  to  the 
Relations  contracted  by  the  alTumption  of  the 
Humane  Nature. 

At  length,  when  advanced  to  Strength  and  Ma- 
turity, the  time  approaching  which  was  appointed 
for  combating  the  enemies  of  our  Salvation,  thou 
didft  prepare  thy  felf  for  hardy  exploits,  and  went* 
eft  out  into  the  field,  as  a  Giant  ready  to  run  the 
whole  courfe  of  our  mifery.  And  fince  it  was 
expedient  for  thee  in  all  things  to  be  made  like 
unto  thy  Brethren,  to  (hew  that  thou  wert  even 
then  content  to  he  Ttimihred  among  the  tranfgrejfors^ 
thou  didft  addrefs  thy  felf  to  that  fervant,  whom 
thou  hadfl:  fent  before  thee  to  prepare  thy  way  by 
the  Baptifm  of  Repentance  ^  as  if  thou  hadfl:  flood 
in  need  of  the  fame  difpenfation  with  common 
Sinners :  And  ofFeredfl:  thy  Perfon  to  this  fpiritual 
walhing,  tho'  thou  wert  that  white  and  fpotlefs  Watch.  $. 
Lamb  of  Gcd,  whofe  Innocence  no  touch  of  Sin 
had  ever  ftained.  Thus  wert  thou  actually  bap- 
tized, not  with  any  intent  to  be  fan6tified  by,  but*" 
to  fanClif  v^  the  waters  ^  and  to  convey  to  them  a 
power  of  cleanfing  Us  afterwards,  when  We 
lliould  have  recourfe  to  the  fame  Methods,  and 
come  duly  qualified  for  thy  myfl;ical  purging  a- 
way  of  Sins. 

Immediately  after  thy  Baptifm,  the  fame  Spirit 
of  Power  and  undaunted  Refolution  led  thee  up  Match,  4. 
into  theWildernefs  :  That  folitude  and  retirement 
from  the  World  might  not  want  the  advantage  of 
fuch  an  example  to  recommend  it,  when  chofen 
with  prudent  deliberation,  and  for  holy  and  ufe- 
ful  purpofes.  There  didft  thou  with  a  mofl:  in- 
flexible confl:ancy,  and  evennefs  of  Temper,  en- 
dure the  want  of  all  company,  and  natural  re- 
frefhmeiTitjfor  forty  day  s  togcther^and  the  tempter 

t  think- 


:?24  MEDITATIONS, 

thinking  thefe  Circumftances  had  given  him  a  fair 
Opportunity  of  fucceeding,  attack'd  thee  there. 
Then  didft  fuftain  a  conflid  of  temptations,and  de- 
luding promifes  5  that  foby  vanquifliing  this  adver- 
fary,  all  his  afTaults  and  deceitful  wiles  might  be 
more  eafily  born,  more  fiiccefsfully  encountred, 
more  refolutely  withftoodjwhen  we  refled  that  the 
Captain  of  our  falvation  was  tempted  as  we  are,  yet 
mthoiitjin-^  and  confequently,  that  we  engage  a 
Foe  who  hath  been,  and  who  may  again  be  baffled. 
When  thus  initiated  by  Baptifm,  and  Falling, 
and  a  victorious  combat  with  the  Devil,  thou  didft 
begin  to  Ihew  thy  felfopenly,feekingin  great  com- 
X)airion  the  lojlfieep  of  the  hoitfe  oflfrael^  inlight- 
ning  theWorld  with  thy  divine  do6lrine,proclaim- 
ing  the  approach  of  thy  fpiritual  Kingdom,  offer- 
ing a  moft  gracious  acceptance  to  all,  who  would 
come  into  the  obedience  of  Faith,  and  confirming 
the  truth  of  thy  preaching  by  miracles  and  figns 
inconteftable.  Then  did  the  power  of  the  God- 
head, refiding  in  thy  human  body,  exert  it  felf 
moft  manifeftly,  when  all  manner  of  difeafes  and 
^  infirmities  of  Devils,  nay  of  Deaths,  yielded  to  thy 
irrefiftable  command  :  And  then  thy  power  too 
was  attended  with  the  fafety  or  advantage  either 
of  Body  or  Soul,  which  thou  didft  moft  freely 
diftribute  to  all  who  were  ready  to  receive  it  : 
Thus  wifely  gaining  upon  Men's  Necefljties,  and 
convincing  them  by  their  own  fenfible  experience, 
that  tobethydifcipleswas  the  greateft friendlhip 
they  could  poUibly  ftiew  to  themfelves.  But  alas ! 
all  thefe  winning  and  excellent  Arts  notwithftand- 
ing,  how  difproportionate  \vas  the  Event  upon 
them,  whom  one  would  fcarce  imagine  it  pollible 
not  to  have  been  won  ?  For  fuch  was  the  Dege- 
neracy of  that  Age  and  Nation,  that  their  foolifii 
heart  was  hardened,  their  eyes  blinded,  the  v/ord 
of  thy  truth  they  caft  contemptuoufly  behind  their 
backs,  and  through  a  moft  prodigious  and  ftupid 

obfti- 


MEDITATIONS.  525 


oi-)ilinacy,  regarded  not  the  v/ond'rous  Evidences 
of  thy  Divinity,  fo  often  repeated  among  them, 
and  for  them.  This  was  the  cafe  of  the.  generality 
of  people,  with  whom  thou  didftcoBverfe.  Some 
few  indeed  there  were  of  better  Difpofitions,  and 
more  generous  Spirits  •,  Men,  who  dared  to  own, 
and  to  be  Champions  for  thy  Truth.  And  thefe 
thou  didfl:  fingle  out  from  the  mean  and  defpifed 
part  of  the  World  ^  that  when  the  ftrong  ?.nd 
great,  the  Men  of  Power  and  Learning,of  Lull  and 
Intereft,  fhould,as  they  fhortly  did, fall  a  conqueft 
to  the  low,  illiterate,  and  unartful  propagators  of 
thy'  Faith,  the  wealcnefs  of  the  Inftruments 
might  leave  the  glory  intire  to  the  wife  Artificer, 
who  had  by  them  wrought  EiFe£ls,  which  the  Per-  . 
fons  employed  about  were  in  their  own  nature  in 
no  degree  qualified  for. 

Nay,  had  thefe  perverfe  Wretches  only  turned 
the  deaf  Ear  to  this  Charmer  fent  from  Heaven, 
and  pertinacioufly  refufed  the  mighty  Benefits, 
which  he  was  fo  exceeding  folicitous  to  prefs  upon 
them,  even  this  Ingratitude,  though  inexcufable, 
had  fallen  much  fhort  of  the  guilt  they  incurred 
upon  that  occafion.  For,  not  content  to  reject 
and  defpife  him,  they  improved  their  negled  into 
malice  and  implacable  hatred  :  publickly  afi^ront- 
ed  the  Lord  of  Lords,  flander'd  andmifreprefented 
his  bell  and  moft  beneficial  miracles,  and  did  unto 
him  whatfoever  the  moft  inveterate  rage,  and  the 
moll  impudent  falihood  could  fiiggeft.  For,  when 
mj^bleffed  Saviour  did  among  them  the  works  which 
no  other  Man  did,  when  the  miracles  were  manifefl, 
and  they  could  not  deny  the  Operations  of  a  fu- 
pernatural  Power,  then  did  they  belch  out  their 
hardned  Infidelity,  in  lyes  and  virulent  reproach- 
es •  then  waft  thou,  fweeteft  Jefus,  caft  in  the 
teeth  with  fiich  injurious  charaders  as  thefe :  This  joh.  9.  j5. 
Man  is  7Wt  of  God  ^  He  cafieth  out  Devils  through  the  Mac.  9.^4. 
^Qwer  of  the  Devils-^  He  hath  a  Devil,  ajidisjiiad,  why  Jo^"-  ^^' 


:^  26  M  E  D  I   ]^  A  T  I  O  N  S. 

Joh.  7. 1 2.  hear  ye  him  ^  He  deceived  the  people.  A  gluttonous 
Luke  7.  j^^fi^  and  a  wine-hibher^  a  friend  of  publicans  avd 
^^'  Jtnners,  So  outrageous  is  perverfenefs,  fo  extra- 
vae^aiit  the  imputations  of  prejudiced  Men,  even 
againfl  Holinefs,  even  againft  Omnipotenc7,when 
a  Teacher,  indued  with  both  thefe  in  perfeclion, 
would  inculcate  Dodrines  which  they  refolve 
never  to  be  perfuaded  to  believe  or  pradife. 


w 


CHAP.    VI. 

Of  our  Lord's  la  ft  Supper  with  his  Difciples^  and 
the  Treachery  of  Judas. 

"HY  art  thou  fo  vexed,  O  Servant  of  Ged, 
and  why  is  thy  Soul  thus  difquieted  with- 
in thee  >  Thou  art  reviled  by  the  tongues  of  info- 
lent  and  unjuftMen.  And  does  that  opprobri- 
ous Language,  or  thefe  wrongful  Afperiions 
upon  thy  good  Name,  provoke  thefe  Sighs, 
and  Tears,  and  bitter  Lamentations  ?  Alas  ! 
Thefe  ought  not  greatly  to  move,  thefe  ought 
not  at  all  to  farprize  thee.  Haft  thou  forgot 
what  Mafter  thou  ferveft,  what  contumelious 
treatment  he  met  with  upon  earth  from  lying  and 
licentious  tongues  •,  and  what  fort  of  ufage  he  hath 
Mate.  10.  warned  thee  to  expedt,  by  faying,  The  Difciple  is 
l^h  "^'<,  ^^^  above  his  Mafter^  nor  the  Servant  above  his  Lord. 
fo."  ^  "  Ij  they  have perfecuted  me^  they  will  alfo  perfecute yoUy 
and  if  they  called  the  Mafter  of  the  Houfe  Beelzebub^ 
how  jnuch  more  pall  they  call  them  of  his  hottftwld  ^ 
Thefe  injuries  and  blafphemies,  O  meek,  and  pa- 
tient Jefus,  thou  didft  endure,  though  frequently 
repeated.  And  when  thy  Enemies,  not  content 
to  vent  their  Rage  in  the  bittereft  Exprellionsof 
hatred  and  contempt,  went  about  to  ftone  thee, 

and 


MEDITATIONS.  527 

and  attempted  thy  life,  ftill  thau  didfi:  bear  with 
them,  and  wouldeft  not  revenge  the  Mifchiefs  they 
intended,  but  ftoodfl:  before  them  as  a  man  that 
heareth  not^  and  in  whofe  ??wnth  is  no  reproofs. 

And  in  this  merciful  and  forbearing  temper 
thou  didfh  perfevere  to  the  end  :     For,  when  at 
laft  thy  Enemies  had  purchafed  thy  moft  innocent 
and  precious  blood,  and  bargained  with  thy  own 
Difciple,  that  Son  of  perdition,  to  fell  thy  life  for 
thirty  pieces  of  Silver,  the  fame  Meeknefs  was 
eminently  confpicuous  to  that  vile  wretch,  who 
betrayed  thee  into  the  hands  of  thofe  who  fought 
thy  deftruclion.  Thofe  treacherous  pradices  were 
not  hid  from  Thee^  but  thou  faweft  the  naughti^ 
nefs  of  his  heart,  when  in  the  laft  Supper  thou 
kneeledil  down  before  him,  and,  without  any  di- 
ftindion,  didft,  among  the  reft,  waih  even  thofe  John,  r  3; 
curfed  feet  of  his,  which  were  fwift  to  fhed  thy 
blood  *,  and  wipe  them  with  thy  holy  hands.     So 
invincible  was  thy  patience,  when  yet  thy  power 
could  have  crufhed  him  to  pieces,  and  in  a  moment 
defeated  all  his  villainous  defigns.     And  fhall  We 
who  are  but  duft  and  afhes,  cherifh  angry  refent- 
ments  after  fuch  an  example  to  the  contrary  ?  Shall 
We  fuffer  Pride  to  tranfport  us  beyond  ourfelves, 
and  fwell  with  impatience  and  fury  implacable 
againft   our  Brethren  and  Equals,   who  do  us 
wrong  ?     Nay,  but,  O  Man,  look  upon  this  afto- 
nifliing  inftance,  this  perfect  emblem  of  meeknefs 
and  humility.     See  the  bleffed  Jefus,  the  maker 
of  the  Univerfe,  the  terrible  and  almighty  Judge 
of  quick  and  dead,  kneeling  at  the  feet  of  his  own 
Servant,  and  his  own  Creature,  of  the  abandoned 
wretch  that  betrayed  him.     Obferve  what  a  proof 
this  Saviour  gave,  of  his  being  what  he  declared     * 
himfelf  to  be,  77ieek  and  lowly  in  heart,  and  let  this  Mate,  i,' 
reflection  fhame  thee  out  of  thy  pride,  and  make  28. 
thee  blulh  at  thy  anger  and  impatience. 

Y  Con^^ 


328 MEDITATIONS. 

Confider  again,  how  great  a  tendernefs  he 
fhew'd  for  that  vileft  of  the  Sons  of  Men,  and  how 
far  he  confulted  his  Modefty,  had  there  been  yet 
any  remains  of  it,  who  would  not  difcover  his 
xviclced  defigns,  nor  put  him  to  open  fhame  by 
reproaching  him  with  them  directly,  before  his 
brethren-,  but  took  the  gentleft  method  of  admo* 
tiifhing  him,  by  hinting  to  him,  that  he  was  con- 
fcious  of  his  malicious  intentions,  in  that  obfcure 
but  lignificant  reproof,  irhat  thov  dofl^  do  quickly  * 
And  yet,  notwithftanding  all  thefe  Intimations, 
he  was  not  brought  ofFfrom  his  hellifh  purpofe,but 
rather  hardned  in  his  wickednefs.  For  the  Text 
tells  us  he  went  out  Immediately^  and  laboured  to  ac- 
complifh  his  villany  forthwith.  Good  God  !  how 
obftinate,  how  inflexible  a  perverfenefs  was  this  1 
how  may  we  apply  to  that  profligate  Apoftle  what 
ir4.14.i2.  the  Prophet  fays  of  the  Devil  hi  mfelf,  Hon?  art  thou 
fallen  from  heaven^OL%iclfer^fon  of  the  vwrnhtg}  Thou 
that  didfl:  once  (hine  fo  glorioufly,  that  wert  ad- 
mitted into  fellowfliip  with  the  Citizens  of  heaven, 
and  a  companion  and  confl:ant  attendant  upon  the 
Word  of  Godhimfelf  !  What  an  amazing,  what  a 
deplorable  Change  is  this  !  that  thou  fhouldfl:  now 
be  numbred  among  the  Children  of  Darknefs,  and 
Defpair  •,  and,  after  having  been  fo  long  fullain'd 
with  the  delicious  bread  of  life,  fliould'fl;  at  lafl: 
choofe  dung  and  death  ?  Then,  blefTed  Jefus,  when 
this  polluted  Creature  was  feparated  from  their 
Company,thy  family  was  pure  andbright,likethe 
holy  Angels  above ;  then  was  this  happy  aflembly 
made  to  drink  largely  of  thofe  divine  Inftrudtions, 
which  flowed  mofi:  plenteoufly  out  of  thy  holy 
^  mouth  :  Then  didft  thou  proceed  to  pour  out  in 
great  abundance,  thofe  fpiritual  Comforts,  and 
fnpporting  Promifes  which  the  other  Difciples 
were  qualified  to  receive,  but  that  profane 
Wretch  had  rendered  himfelf  altogether  inca* 
pable  and  unworthy  of,    to  careful  wert  thou 

not 


M  E  D  I  T  x\  T  I  O  N  S.  ^^29 

not  to  caft  thy  precious  Pearls  before  Svv^ine,  fo 
liberal  of  them,  to  thofe  well-difpofed  Minds 
who  were  defirous  to  be  inriched,  and  prepared 
to  improve  bj  them. 


CHAP.     VII. 

OfChrtJl^s  rettrifi^  into  the   Garden^  and  his 
Sufferings  there. 

WHEN  thoii  hadft  thus,  not  only  by  thy  ex- 
ample, biit  bj  thy  moft  divine  Difcourfes, 
inculcated  upon  thy  Difciples,the  Duties  of  Chari- 
ty and  Patience  ^  then  did  ft  thoii,  fweeteft  Sa- 
viour, retreat  to  a  place,  v/ith  which  thy  betrayer 
was  well  acquainted.     And  this,  not  through  in- 
cautioufnefs,  but  to  meet  thofe  Indignities  and 
Sufferings,  which,  thoukneweft  perfedtly  well  be- 
fore-hand, would  there  come  upon  thee.     There 
did  thy  Soul  confefs  its  own  amazement,  and  hea- 
Vinels  even  unto  death.      Nor  didft  thou  efteem 
it  any  Difparagement  to  the  perfection  of  thy  Di- 
vine Nature,  to  acknov/ledge  thofe  Agonies,  un- 
der which  thy  Humane  laboured,  upon  the  ap- 
proach of  that  Fairion,  which  thou  in  marvellous 
love  didft  chufe  to  undergo.     Then  were  thy 
Brethrens  Ears  wounded  with  that  cutting  Com- 
i:)laint,  My  foul  is  exceeiiyig  forrowful  eve7i  unto  ^vfaf  2^ 
death.  There  didft  thou  fall  upon  thy  face,  and  on  ^8. 
thy  bended  knees  prefer  thy  petitions  in  the  mul- 
titude of  thy  inward  griefs  ^  but  ftill  with  an  en- 
tire refignation  to  the  Will  of  God,  even  in  thofe 
Inftances,  to  which  fiefli  and  blood  hath  the  moft 
irreconcileable  abhorrence  •,  0  viy  Father^  if  it  bey-  s9' 
pojfible^  let  this  Cup  pafs  fro7n  ^ne-^neverthelefs^  iwtvty 
jnil  but  thine  be  done.    The  fweats  of  blood,  which 
ftreamed  from  thy  holy  body,  and  down  upon  the 

y  2   '  ground, 


330  MEDITATIONS. 

ground,  while  this  prayer  was  utter'd,  gave  abun- 
dant evidence  of  the  unconceivable  anguifh  of 
thy  Soul. 

But,  O  Lord  Jefu  Chrift,  fufter  me,  I  hefeecH 
■  thee,  to  expofculate  with  thee  a  little  upon  this 
occafion.  Whence  then,  O  mighty  Lord,  could 
that  exceeding  Sorrow  of  thy  Soul  proceed  ? 
"Whence  the  incredible  diforder  of  mind  and  body, 
that  could  force  fo  unnatural  a  Sweat  ?  Whence 
that  fo  earnefi:  and  importunate  fupplication  to  be 
delivered  from  this  bitter  Cup  ?  Was  not  the  Sacri- 
fice of  thy  felf  ofter'd  to  thy  Father  willingl}''  and 
freely  >  Was  not  it  therefore  fo  highly  meritorious 
becaufe  it  was  thy  own  choice  and  voluntary  ad  ? 
And  could  the  Lord  of  all  the  World  be  compell'd 
to  fuffer  any  thing,  which  himfelf  did  not  permit,- 
and  entirely  confent  to  ?  Undoubtedl}'',  no  M.m 
John  i:>.  did,  no  Man  could  take  thy  life  away  fro7n  thee^  but 
*^'  thou  layedjl  it  down  of  thy  felf     And  therefore  we 

have  rcafon  to  conclude,  that  thefe  Agonies  and 
Prayers  were  for  our  Comfort  and  Encourage- 
ment, fubmitted  to  for  the  fupport  of  thy  feeble 
members  •,  that  we  fhould  not  defpair  upon  the  ac- 
count of  humane  and  infeparable  infirmities,  nor 
fufpecl  the  iincerity  of  our  own  hearts,  or  the  mer- 
cy of  a  gracious  God  in  fharp  tryals  •,  though  the 
wealcnefs  of  our  iiefli  fhould  give  back,  and  en- 
deavour to  decline  thofe  fafferings^  to  which  our 
Spirit  is  willing  and  ready  to  fubmit.  Not  only  fo, 
fcnt  from  hence  too  we  find  frelli  motives  to  Love 
and  Gratitude.  For,  the  more  fenfible  we  are  of 
the  frailty  of  our  own  nature,  tlie  jufter  value  we 
lliall  have  of  that  infinite  condefcenfion,by  wliich 
the  Son  of  God  took  it  upon  him.  And  thofe 
pangs  and  prayers  are  an  undoubted  j)roof,  that 
thou  didfi:  really  feel  our  Infirmities,  and  with  a 
tender  and  moft  afflicting  fenfe  of  pain,run  through 
the  thorny  ftages  of  thy  paifion.  That  expreliion, 
let  this  cup  pafsfrovi  me,  feems  plainly  to  have  been 

extorted 


MEDITATIONS.  531 

extorted  from  thee  by  the  vehemence  of  thy  hu- 
rnanc  Affedtions  •  and,  in  fome  fenfe  we  may  have 
leave  to  apply  to  Thee,  what  thou  wert  pleafed  to 
fay  to  thy  Difciples,  Thefpint  truly  is  willlvg^  hut  Macch.  2^. 
the  fief!)  is  weahThe  readinefs  of  thy  fpirit  upon  this  41. 
moft  trjnng  occafion  was  manifeft  beyond  all  rea- 
fon  of  doubt,  by  many  and  moft  deliberate  actions. 
For  hadd  thou  not  been  well  content,  hadft  thou 
not  been  moft  refolutely  determined  in  thy  own 
.m.ind,  to  fufFer,  why  didft  thou  put  thy  felf  in  the 
Tra^^tors  way  ?  Why,  when  he  came  with  lanterns, 
and  torches,  and  weapons,  and  a  band  of  Soldiers 
that  fought  thy  life,  didft  thou  of  thy  own  accord 
go  forth  to  meet  them?  Why, w^henthy  irrer* 
liftable  power  had  ftruck  their  forces  down  to  the 
ground,  didft  thou  again  withdraw  that  reftraint, 
and  make  thy  Enemies  able  to  take  thee  ?  Why 
didft  thou  declare  thy  felf  the  Perfon  they  fought 
for,  and  compljr  with  the  Signal  given  by  the 
Plotter  and  Ring-leader  of  all  this  villany  >  Thefe 
Circumftances  will  not  allow  us  to  fuppofe,  th^t 
thou  wert  wavering  or  loth  to  fuffen  But  that, 
which  of  all  others  feems  moft  amazing,  is,  that 
thou  ftiouldft  not  difdain  the  CarefFes  of  fo  vile  a 
Mifcreant,  that  thou  ftiouldft  Idfs  thatbeaftof 
prey,  who  thirfted  for  thy  blood  5  and  endure  to 
let  thy  mouth,  in  which  there  was  no  guile,  touch 
His,  that  was  full  of  mifchief  and  deceit,  and  all 
manner  of  malicious  wickednefs. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

Jefus  apj^rehended^ 

OLamb  of  God,  without  blemifti,  and  without 
fpot,  whiter  than  Innocence  it  felf !  what 
part  hadft  thou  with  tliat  black  fiend,that  ravenous 

¥3  Wolf 


?f  2  M  E  D  1  T  A  T  1  O  N  S, 

I     ,1       r  I _^^— ^^— ^^^       II,  I     ■!■■       l■■^  I     ■     ■      —■I^.MIMM  ■■■■  m  M    ■   ■        ■— i— — — i^MM^ 

2  Cor.  <^.  Wolf  that  came  to  tear  thee  in  pieces  ?  jrhat  con^ 
M-  •  cord  could  Chrift  have  with  Belial  ^  None  certainly. 
As  well  may  light  have  fellowfhip  with  darknefs. 
But  even  this  Condefcenfion  was  kindly  intended, 
and  the  Tray  tor's  Crime  became  yet  more  inexcu- 
fable,  for  neglecting  to  improve  it.  Since  now  no 
Inftance  of  ICindnefs  had  been  wanting,  which 
might  fcften  his  Heart,  and  divert  him  from  the 
Obftinacy  of  his  barbarous  Enter  prize.  He  had 
fhewed  him.felf  proof  againft  Intimations  and  Ad- 
monitions, and  Threatnings  before  ^  and  now  our 
Lord  makes  this  laft  Experiment  ^  and,  to  fhame 
him  if  poffible  into  repentance,  puts  him  in  mind 
firlt  of  their  former  intimacy  and  friendfhip,accoft^ 
Macth-  25-  ii^ghii^  in'thofe  familiar  tcicms,Frie7id,wherefore  art 
50.  thou  covio  ?  and  then  upbraids  the  bafenefs  and 

horrour  of  his  treachery,  when  covered  under  the 
difguife  of  kindnefs  and  refped,  in  that  other  que- 
Luke  22.  ^Iqj-j^  Jiidas^  hetrayefi  thoii  the  Son  of  Man  vAth  a  Bfs  ^ 
And  now  behold,  Ihe  FhiUJlines  are  upoyi  thee^ 
Sampfon  ^  \YitSon  ofMaji  is  delivered  into  the  hands  of 
Sinner n.  Of  Sinners  ftupid  and  bent  upon  wicked- 
nefs  even  to  a  Prodigy.  For,  who  would  not  have 
expedled,  that  their  Hearts  Ihould  have  mifgivcn 
them,  when  repulfed  at  their  firft  Aflault,  and 
beaten  back  to  the  Earth  by  the  ftrength  of  thy 
almighty  Arm  ^    This  was  not  done  in  thy  ov/ii 
defence,  or  with  any  intent  to  rclcue  thy  felf  out 
of  their  hands  that  fought  thy  life  •,  but  purely  to 
check  the  prefumption  of  thofe  wicked  Men,  and 
let  them  plainly  fee,  that  their  malice  had  no  pow- 
er over  thee,  farther  than  thou  wert  pleafed  to  let 
it  prevail  at  that  tim.e.     And  who  can  hear,  with-' 
out  a  very  fenfible  grief,  how  cruelly  they  treated 
thee,  how  they  proceeded  in  their  m.urd'rous  vio- 
lence, how  they  bound  thj  holy  hands,  and  drew 
this  meek  lamb  of  God,  who  open'd  not  his  mouth, 
to  x}]c  ilaughter,  with  all  the  contumelious  indig- 
nities due  to  Robbers  and  Murderers  ?  Yet,  fach 

was 


M  E  D  I  T  A  T  i  6  ns.  535 

was  the  overflowing  fweetnefs  of  thy  mercy,  as 
even  in  that  inftance  to  difFafe  it  felf  upon  thy  bit- 
terefl;  adverfaries.  For,  when  the  forward  zeal  of 
thy  difciple  had  cut  off  an  ear  of  one  that  rudely 
ailaulted  thee,  Thou  by  thy  powerful  touch  didft 
heal  the  wound,  and  proted:  thy  defender  from 
the  revenge  of  them  who  had  thee  in  cuftody. 
Ciirjed  he  their  ange?'for  it  was  fierce^  and  their  TPrath 
for  it  was  cruel  ^  fierce  to  the  laft  degree,  and  in- 
flexibly fet  upon  cruelty,  fince  neither  the  ma- 
jefty  of  thy  miraculous  power  could  awe  it,  nor 
the  aftoniilhing  goodnefs  of  thy  no  lefs  miraculous 
mercy  could  foften  it  into  pity  or  remorfe. 


CHAP.    IX. 

Our  Lord  huff^eted^  [pit  uporij  and  fcourg^d. 

IN  purfuance  of  this  implacable  malice,  my 
dearefi:  Saviour  was  dragged  to  the  High? 
Prieft's  Palace,  and  in  the  prefence  of  the  Coun- 
cil, who  thirfted  for  his  blood,  was  adjudged  to 
death,  as  a  Blafphemer,  for  confeliing  the  truth, 
which  he  had  taught  through  the  whole  courfe  of 
his  Preaching.  And,  O  my  fweetcft  Jefus,  how 
many  barbarous  infolences  didft  thou  then  undergo 
from  thy  own  race  and  people  >  That  adorable  j^jtc.  25. 
face,  which  Angels  behold  with  Reverence  and 
3oyunfpea]cable,that  fheds  its  bright  beams  of  light 
and  fills  all  heaven  with  tranfport  and  triumph  ^ 
That  face  which  all  the  rich  and  great  ones  of  this 
world  ihallproftrate  themfelves  before  v/ith  hum- 
ble fupplications,  was  then  defiled  and  ftained 
with  the  fpittings  of  unhallowed  lips  •,  ftruck  with 
the  palms  of  fa crilegious  hands,  cover'd  and  blind- 
folded in  derifion  ^  and  the  Lord  of  the  Univerfe 
made  a  laugliing-ftock  to  the  rabble^  and  inhu? 

y  4  ITiaiiely 


J94  MEDITATIONS. 

inanely  buffeted,  as  if  he  had  been  the  vilefl:  of 
Slaves.     And  was  not  this  enough,  yet  barbarous 
wretches,  to  glut  your  fury  >    No  :  ftill  he  lives, 
and  nothing  but  his  blood  can  fatisfjr.     Hence 
then  he  is  forced  away  ^  and,  that  the  Gentiles  too 
might  bear  a  part  in  this  black  Tragedy,  the 
tongue  of  an  uncircumcifed  dog  muft  be  made  red 
with  his  Blood.     The  next  Scene  therefore  pre- 
fents  him  bound  before  Pilate^  and  all  the  people, 
by  inftigation  of  their  wicked  Rulers,  demanding 
vengeance,  and  requiring,  that  hefhould  becruci- 
-iied.    See  here,  my  Soul,  the  blind  perverfenefs  of 
an  enraged  multitude.     He,  who  had  dorte  no  fin^ 
1  Pec  1.  neither  was  guile foiui din  his  7?ioiith^  nay,  he  who  had 
A  >i   .       ^^'^^  about  conftantly  doinggood,  and  fignalized  him- 
23.    *  '    felf  by  miracles  of  mercy  without  Number  ;    This 
Man  is  refufed,  and  a  Thief,  a  Murderer,  a  Ring- 
leader of  Sedition  preferred  before  him  :  The  harm- 
lefs  Lamb  is  declared  unworthy   to  live,  and  a 
ravening  Wolf  is  fparedfrom  the  death  his  crimes 
deferved.     Good  God  !  how  unequal  vv^as  the  com- 
-parifon  !  How  abfurd  the  exchange  !  How  infatu- 
ated the  perfons  that  made  it !    How  corrupt  the 
Judge  that  allowed  it  ?  For  that  wicked  Magiftrate 
was  fufficiently  feniible,  that  Envy  was  at  the  bot- 
tom of  all  thefe  proceedings  againft  thee  ^  and  yet 
that  fenfe  reftrained  him  not  from  giving  in  to  all 
their  inhumanity  :    But  he  too,  in  defpite  cf  the 
checks  of  his  own  mind,  lentahelping  hand  to  thy 
afflictions,  and  vexed  that  Soul  which  they  had 
injuriouily  wounded.      He  fent  thee  bound  to 
tuke  23,  Herod  J  that  thou  mighteft  be  yet  more  expofed  to 
fcorn  and  contempt  ^  and,  after  all  the  mockings 
of  him,  and  his  Men  of  War  had  pafTedupon  thee, 
he  received  thee  again,  arrayed  in  a  gorgeous  robe, 
and  conducted  with  all  the  formal  Hate  of  a  Mock- 
.  King.     Then  did  he  ftrip  thee  of  thy  Purple  Or- 
naments, with  which    thou   hadfl:  been   lately 
cloath'd  in  deriflon,  and  produce  thee  to  the  ga- 
zing 


MEDITATIONS.  ^35 


2ing  croud  naked, that  in  this  form  too  thou  might- 
eft  be  made  a  fpedlacle,  and  every  way  feed  their 
malice  and  fcorn.  After  this  Ihame,  fucceeded 
pains  and  tortures  •,  Thy  holy  flefh  was  torn  with 
mercilefs  rcom^cs.theploivers plowed  ttpon  thy  hack^ 
and  made  long  and  deep  furrows  •,  and  every  cutting 
foipe,  every  bruife  and  fear  was  fo  far  from  in- 
clining thy  perfecutors  to  relent,  that  they  only 
provoked  frefh  blows,  and  added  to  the  trium.phs 
of  their  cruelty. 


C  H  A  P.    X. 

Jefus  in  the  Co?n?no?2>rHalL 

BU  T  what,  O  beft  beloved  Son  of  the  great  Mate.  27. 
)     God,  What  hadft  thou  done,  that  could  de-  ^7- 
ferve  fuch  fufterings  ?  What,  to  provoke  fuch  con- 
tumelious treatment  ?  Not  any  thing  indeed  could 
be  laid  to  thy  charge  ^  but  I,  even  I,  and  every 
wretched  finner,  were  the  true  caufe  of  all  thy  an- 
giiifh  and  reproach.  Thou  wert  f7mtte7i  ofGod^  a7id  ifai.  y 
afflicisd  •  but  they  were  onr  tratifgrejfioin  that  wovnded 
thee,  and  our  iniquities  that  brmfed  thee.  I  have  eatejt  Ezek-  i8» 
fowre  grapes^  and  thy  teeth  were  Jet  on  edge.     And  in 
thy  perfon  fa  id  the  Prophet  truly,  I  paid  theni  the  pui.  5^. 
things  that  I  never  took.  But  ftill  neither  thebitter- 
nefs  of  thy  forrows,nor  the  unexampled  Meeknefs 
with  which  they  were  endued,  made  any  impref- 
lion  at  all  upon  the  hard-hearted  Jews.  When  they 
had  even  wearied  themfelves  with  infiicling  all 
manner  of  ignominy  and  torture,  thou  wert  turn- 
ed over  to  the  lefs  relenting  hands  of  uncircumcifed 
Soldiers,  fentenced  and  delivered  up  to  a  moft  fcan* 
dalous  and  painful  death.  And  was  it  not  enough, 
ye  blood-thirfty  monfters^to  QXUci^jthisLo7'd  of  life 
(ivd  glory,  unlefi  ye  alfo  wreaked  your  malice  on 

t  him. 


356  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  ON  S. 

him,  and  prefaced  it  with  a  new  fcene  of  Scorn  ? 
For  thus  the  Scriptures  have  declared  you  did,  as 
if  you  were  concerned  for  nothing  more,  than  not 
to  come  behind  the  Jews  in  any  manner  of  impi- 
ous Infolence,  and  remorfelefs  Cruelty.  Then, 
fays  the  Evangelift,  The  Soldiers  of  the  Goveniour 
took  jfefus  into  the  commoJi-hall^  ayid gathered  imto  him 
the  whole  hand  of  Soldiers,  And  theyjiripped  him^  and 
fvt  on  him  afcarlet  robe.  And  when  they  had  platted 
a  crown  of  thorns  ^  they  put  it  "Upon  his  head,  and  a  reed 
in  his  rijiht'handj  and  they  bowed  the  knee  before  him^ 
and  mocked  him^  faying.  Hail  King  of  the  Jews.  And 
iheyfpit  vpon  him,  and  took  the  reed,  and  fmote  him  on 
the  head. 


CHAP.    XI. 

Jeftis    at  Mount  Calvary. 

^        A   KD,  after  that  they  had  moclid  him,  they  took  the 

^l'    ^'    l\  robe  offfro7nhi?n,and  put  his  own  raiment  on  hijn^ 

Luke  2  J.    ^'^^  l(^d  him  away  to  crucify  him  :    and  he  went  forth 

John  2^.    bearing  his  crofs.  And,  when  they  were  come  to  a  place 

called  Golgotha,  that  is  to  fay,  the  place  of  a  Skull, 

they  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink  mi^igled  with  gall,  and 

when  he  had  tajled  thereof  he  would  7tot  drijih     An4 

X  there  they  crvcified  him,and  two  thieves  with  him,  on  ei- 

tber  fide  one,  and  Jefiis  in  the  midf.  Then f aid  Jefus, 

Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they 

do.  After  this,  Jefus  hwwiitg  that  all  thijigs  were  now 

Mccomplijhed,  that  the  Scripture  ynight  be  fulfilled,  faith, 

I  thirft.  Andfiraightway  one  of  themran,  and  took  a 

Jp^nge,  and  filled  it  with  vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reed, 

and  gave  him  to  drink.    When  Jefus  therefore  had  re- 

ccived  the  vijiegar,  hefaid.  It  is  finifhed  ;  And  when 

he  h.:d  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  he  faid.  Father,  into 

thy  hands  I  commend  my  fpirit.    And  havijigfaid 

^  thus^ 


M  E  D  I  TAT  I  0  N  S.  ^37 

thus^  he  bowed  his  head^  and  gave  up  the  Ghoft,  Then 
one  of  the  Soldiers  with  afpear  pierced  hisjide^  and 
forthwith  came  thereout  blood  and  water. 


CHAP.    XII. 

RefteBions  upon  the  Mocking  and  Cmcifixion 

of  our  Lord. 

A  Wake  now,  my  Soul,  and  Ihake  thy  felf  from 
the  Duft,  read  this  Account  with  due  atten- 
tion, weigh  every  Circumftance  nicely,  and  confi- 
der  this  excellent  Perfon,  whom  the  Hiftory  of  the 
Gofpel,  like  a  Glafs,  fets  prefent  before  thy  Eyes. 
Think,  Omy  Soul,  who  this  is,  that  appears  in 
the  Habit  and  Pomp  of  a  King,  and  yet  covered 
at  the  fame  time  with  the  Confufion  and  Shame 
of  the  moft  abject  Slave.     Obferve  this  mixture 
of  Honour  and  Reproach.     He  ftands  before  thee 
crowned,  but  even  that  Crown  is  an  addition  to 
his  Torments  ^  and  every  pointed  Thorn,  of  which 
it  is  compofed,  pierces  his  Divine  Body,  andbe- 
fmears  his  beautiful  Face  with  Blood  :  His  Body  is 
cloathed  with  royal  Purple,  but  even  that  Robe 
.  contributes  to  his  Difgrace,  and  does  not  com- 
mand Refpecl,  but  was  intended  to  provoke  the 
Contempt  of  the  Spectators.     He  holds  indeed  a 
Scepter  in  his  Hand,  but  fuch  a  one  as  is  imployed 
in  fmiting  his  adorable  Head.  The  infolent  Crea- 
tures fall  down  upon  their  Knees,  and  worihip  him 
in  Sport  ^  they  proclaim  him  King,  and  in  the 
very  next  Breath  infult  over  him,  fpit  upon  his 
lovely  Cheeks,  and  ftrike  him  over  the  Mouth 
with  their  Fiits,  andftrip  him  of  thofe  Ornaments 
which  were  lent  only  to  his  Diihonour.     See  how 
this  King  of  Heaven  is  ridiculed  by  his  own  Crea- 
tures, and  his  Almighty  Majefty,  by  all  polRble 
Methods,  expofed  to  the  Derifion  of  prophane  Re- 
bels ; 


358  M  E  D  1  T  A  T  I  O  N  S. 


bels :  Keep  him  Company  to  the  place  of  Execu- 
tion, and  obferve  how  his  tender  Limbs  bend  un- 
der the  burthen  of  the  Crofs.  Behold  him  carrying 
the  Inftrumiejiit  of  fhame,  and  difdaining  nothing, 
that  might  render  it  as  exqaiiite  as  even  his  bitter- 
eft  Enemies  could  contrive  to  m^ake  it.  When  ar- 
rived at  the  end  of  his  painful  Journc}'-,  Yirjcgar 
and  Gall  are  the  Refrelhments  allowed  him  af  er 
his  Toil  •,  fuch  was  the  Pity  his  fainting  Spirits 
found,  fuch  the  Recruits  of  his  thiriling  Soul,  bit- 
.  ter  as  the  Malice  of  them,  who  had  exhaufted  his 
Strength  by  the  infinite  variety  of  their  repeated 
Tortures.        ' 

Look  on  him  next,  ftretched  on  the  Ground, 
his  Limbs  extended  on  the  Crofs,  his  Hands  and 
Feet  nailed  to  the  curfed  Tree  •,  and,  when  it  v/as 
erecied,  thofe  Wounds  torn  open  by  the  weight  of 
his  Body  hanging  upon  thefe  Faitnings.  And.^n 
this  angui{b,  what  were  the  words  his  Grief  extor- 
ted from  him.  ?  Fathe?\forgrce  thejn^  for  they  kr.ow  not 
what  they  do,  O  Patience  invincible  !  O  Charity 
unm.eafarable  '  Kot  one  Syllable  of  angry  Refent- 
ment  nor  murmuring  Comphant^  no  Indignation 
for  fuch  perfect  Innocence  fo  cauflefly  injured 
and  abuftd  -^  no  Wifiies  of  Revenge,  nor  Imprecati- 
ons upon  the  devoted  Heads  of  thefe  brutilh  Men  -, 
but,  even  in  the  extremity  of  Torment,  a  calm  and 
kind  Petiti(ni  to  his  Father,  a  word  cf  Eleliing, 
and  the  bell  excufe  alledged  in  mitigation  of  their 
fault,  which  even  the  guilty  themfelves  could  have 
produced  in  Bar  to  the  Cor.demnation  and  Yen- 
geance  due  to  it.  Never  was  fuch  an  inftance  of 
meek  fufFering,  never  fo  unwearied  a  love  of  Ene- 
mies, never  £o  kind  an  Intercejhon  for  Pardon, 
foce  the  World  began.  Remember  this,  my  Soul, 
and,  wheTirliou  iividefi  thy  felf  apt  to  be  out  of 
•tefi.-^'^r  "fbr'  ib:e,  k^oi^.^  or  ^'i^^rongs  thou  lui^ainefl:, 

eve.-    ,  .-... ...,    -    .n  'i'/'h^a  moir  iixidt- 

ferved  J   coxiipare  (  chough  in  triath  there  can  be 

no 


MEDITATIONS.  939 


no  comparifon  )  thy  Sufferings  with  thy  Lord's  : 
Then  tell  tliy  felf,   that  he  who  gave  thee  com- 
mand to  love  thy  enemies^  aiid  pray  for  them  that  ^^- Match.  5, 
fphefjilly  life  thee^  did  alfo  leave  thee  an  Example  44. 
of  doing  it,  in  a  cafe  to  which  thine  can  never  be 
parallel. 

Turn  thine  Eyes  this  way  yet  once  more,  and 
let  this  Objed  now  before  thee  call  up  at  once 
thy  Wonder  and  Compailion.  For  what  will  move 
thy  tendereft  Pity,  what,  thy  aftonifhm.ent,  if 
thou  art  infenfible  upon  this  cccafion  ?  Thy  Lord 
and  Saviour,  th}^  beft  and  deareft  Friend  naked, 
and  defpifed,  his  Body  rent  and  whealed  with 
Scourges,  bruifed  and  blue  with  Blows,  expofed  to 
publick  view  in  the  Company  of  the  vileft  Male- 
fadors  •  as  if  his  crimes  had  been  as  black  as  theirs  j 
abhorred  and  infulted  by  his  Enemies. forfaken  by 
his  Servants  and  Friends  •,  his  hands  and  feet  gored 
with  pins  of  Iron  *,  his  limbs  diftorted  with  anguifhj 
mock'din  the  very  Agonies  of  Death  with  a  bitter 
Potion,  his  Spirits  exhaufted  with  Pain  •  and,  to 
fhew  that  the  malice  andinfolence  of  hisperfecu- 
tors  did  not  expire  even  with  his  Life,  his  Sides  in 
barbarous  wantonnefs  pierced  with  a  Spear  afteF 
death.  See  how  the  Blood  gufhes  out  from  his 
,  "Wounds  ?  His  Head,  his  Hands,  his  Feet,  his  Side, 
all  fending  out  their  purple  Stream^s  in  great  abun- 
dance !  And  can  thy  eyes  behold  all  this,  and  ftill 
be  dry?  O  no  !  Let  my  Head  be  a  Fountain  of 
Waters,  and  my  Tears  fwell  into, a  Flood  •,  let  my 
whole  Soul  diiTolve,  and  let  holy  Compailion  and 
ardent  Love  be  the  Fire  to  melt  it  down.  I  will 
weep  over  this  wonderful  Alan  ^  I  will  bear  a  part 
in  all  his  Sorrows  •,  I  will  waih  all  his  Wounds. 
And,  when  the  confideration  what  bitter  things 
they  were  that  he  endured,  hath  fpent  it  felt,  and 
had  its  full  effed,  the  thought  how  meekly  he  en- 
dured them,  ihall  minifter  frcfh  matter  for  my  ten- 
dernefs  and  contrition, 

C  H  A  P, 


540  MEDITATIONS. 

i»  I   I      ■      I  '   '         '  '         < 

CHAP.    XIIL 

Jefus  glorified  hi  his  Deaths 

THOUhaftl)een  hitherto  engaged^  mySoul^ 
in  Contemplations,  that  have  exercifed  thy 
Compallion  as  well  as  Wonder,  and  haft  feen  thy 
Saviour  in  the  loweft  of  his  Humiliations  for  thee; 
But  now  It  is  time  to  change  the  Scene,  and  to 
prefent  thee  with  a  new  and  different  Profped. 
One  that  is  equally  amazing,  and  will  convince 
thee,  that  God  did  not  forfake  his  Son,  nor  leave 
him  without  ampleTeftimonies  of  Divine  Majefty 
and  Pov/er,  even  in  the  Extremity  of  Sufferings 
and  Reproaches.  To  this  purpofe  the  Evangelifts 
have  been  careful  to  acquaint  the  World,  th^t  from 

Mac  zi*  t^^^fi^^^^  ^our  there  was  darhiefs  over  all  theLaiid  until 
the  Jiinth  hoiu\,  and  the  fun  was  darkned^  aytd  the  veil  of 
the  te7nple  was  rent  in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom, 

ttikc  23.  and  the  earth  did  quake ^  and  the  rocks  rent^  and  the 

f  laves  were  opeiied,  and  many  bodies  of  faiiits  which 
\t  arofe.  What  manner  of  Man  is  this, my  Soul, 
that  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  every  Element  Ihou'd 
fuffer  v/ith  him,  and  at  the  time  of  his  expiring 
Agonies  diffufe  fuch  ftrong  Convulfions^fuch  afto- 
iiifhing  Appearances,  through  all  created  Nature 
here  below  ?  Nay,  what  an  uncommon  Death 
muft  that  needs  be,  which  thus  infpired  thofe  who 
were  dead  before  with  new  Life  ?  Let  thefe  effeds 
convince  thee  beyond  all  remains  of  fcruple,  as 
they  ought  then  to  have  fatisfied  the  eye-witneffes 
of  them,  that  this  is,  this  can  be  no  other,  than 
the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Saviour  of  the  World, 
the  only  begotten  Son  of  God,  ]3erfe6t  God  and 
perfed  Man  •,  the  only  Man  indeed  upon  Earth, 
who  ever  lived  in  our  Nature,  and  left  no  ftain  of 
Sin  upon  it.  And  yet  fee  how  this  unfpotted  In- 
nocence was  7inmbred  a??io7tg  the  tranfgrejjors,  caft 

out 


MEDITATIONS.  ^41 

out  as  a  Leper  from  human  Converfation,  deipi- 
fed  and  rejeded,  the  very  fcorn  of  Men,  and  de- 
teftation  of  the  People.     He  that  was  fair  and 
lovely  above  the  Sons  of  Men,  wafted  with  Mi- 
fery,  deformed  with  Grief,  and  his  Vifage  fo  mar- i^dasili  $2, 
red  more  than  the  fom  ofmen^  that  as  many  as  faw  H* 
him  were  perfe^ily  ajlonified  at  him.    Thus  was  he 
tpoundedfor  our  hiiqmties^  and  Sorely  hruifed  for  our  53*  5» 
tranfgrejioyi.     Thus  did  he  fall  a  holy  Sacrifice  of- 
fered upon  the'Altar  of  the  Crofs :  An  Oblation  of 
fweet-fmellingfavour,acceptable  above  any  other, 
to  Thee,  O  King  and  Father  of  eternal  Glory  : 
and  all,  that  by  his  Death  fo  wrongfully  inflicted, 
fo  patiently  fuftained,  he  might  turn  away  the 
fiercenefs  of  that  Wrath  we  had  deferved,procur  e 
accefs  for  wretched  Sinners  to  thy  Mercy-Seat  ^ 
and  having  firft  purged  us  by  his  Blood,  might 
mafecus  fit  down  together  with  himfelf  in  heave7ilyE^hc{.  2, 
place Sy  that  the  exceeding  riches  of  thy  grace  fnight^^j* 
bejl)ewn  in  this  ineftimable  fo*;/J;/^/5  towardsus  thro" 
Chrijl  Jefus, 


L 


CHAP.    XIV. 

An  Addrefs  to  God  the  Father. 

OOK  down  then,  O  Lord,  ffom  thy  holjr 
place,  from  the  dwelling  of  thy  Majefty  in 
the  higheft  Heavens,  and  let  thine  Eyes  delight 
themfelves  in  this  moft  precious  and  perfect  Sacri-^ 
fice,  which  our  great  High-Prieft,  thy  holy  Child 
Jefus,  offered  for  the  Sins  of  his  Brethren  ^  and  do 
not  then  refufe  to  be  entreated  5  but,  though  our 
backflidings  are  many , and  we  have  very  grievoufly 
rebelled,  yet  let  thine  anger  be  turned  av/ay,  and 
caufe  thy  Face  to  fhine  upon  us,  in  the  Comforts 
of  Pardon  and  Peace,  for  the  Lord's  fake.  Behold 
ihQvoiceofoitr  brother's  blood^even  the  blood  offprink-  ^^^ 

lingHQb',12, 


:?42  MEDITATIONS. 


Uvg^whichfpeaketh  better  tJmigs  than  that  of  Ah  el  ^cry- 
ing aloud  to  thee  from  the  Crofs.  And  is  it  poillble 
that  he  fhouldhang  there  to  no  purpofe  ?  Yet  hang 
there  ftill  he  does  in  efFed  ♦,  for  all  things  paftare 
prefent  to  Thee  as  if  they  were  now  in  Action  ^ 
andlikewife  in  regard  of  that  cmitinual  Reprefen- 
tation  of  his  Sufferings,  made  bj  the  Churches 
daily  Prayers  and  Sacraments  on  Earth,  and  his 
own  moft  gracious  and  powerful  InterceiFion  in 
Heaven.     See  now,  and  kno\v%  dear  Father,  that 

Gen.  37.  if)i^  2s  thy  Sons  coat,  even  the  true  Jofeph^  of  whom 
the  Patriarch  heretofore  was  but  an  humble  Type. 
An  evil  beaft  hath  devoured  hi?n,  trampled  his  cloath- 
ing  under  foot  in  its  fury,  and  ftained  the  Beau- 
ty of  it  with  his  Blood.  See,  I  befeech  thee,  the 
five  ghaftly  Wounds,  with  which  the  mercilefs 

Gen.  39.  Creature  rent  his  tender  Body.  Behold  the  Gar- 
ment which  the  chaite  and  finlefs  Youth  left  in 
the  hands  of  the  Egyptian  Harlot,  his  cloathing  of 
Flefh  torn  off  by.  a  wicked  and  adulterous  Gene- 
ration :  Remember  how  he  rather  chofe  to  part 
with  this,  than  ftain  his  Innocence,  preferring  a 
voluntary  Povert}^,  a  long  fuccelTion  of  Sorrows, 
and  the  very  Dungeon  of  Death,  before  the  King- 
doms of  the  World,  and  the  Glory  of  them,  when 

Mat;  4.  the  reducing  Tempter  laid  that  Bait,  Allthiswill  I 
give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  fall  down  and  worfiip  me.  And 
now,  O  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father,  conlider,  that 

Gen.  4  J.  thy  fon  is  yet  alive ^and  I  ehold  he  is  Goverjiour  over  all 
the  land  of  Egypt :  Yea,  as  far  as  thy  Dominions  ex- 
tend over  the  face  of  the  whole  Earth.  For  thou 
haft  raifed  him  from  the  Prifons  of  Hell  and  the 
Grave,  exalted  him  very  highly,  and  fcated  him 
upon  thy  own  Throne  •  haft  made  him  to  put  off 
Mortality,  and  adorned  his  crucified  Flefii  with 
beauty  exquifite,and  immortal  life.  He  hath  utter- 
ly overthrown  the  Tyranny  of  the  mercilefs  P/;^- 
roah'^  burft  througli  the  Bands  of  Death,  led  the 
infernal  Powers  captive,  as  by  his  own  invincible 

Divine 


MEDITATION  S.  :^4^ 

Divine  Power  triumphantly  afcended  into  his  na- 
tive Heaven.     I  fee,  I  fee  him  with  the  Eyes  of 
Faith,  cr'  wne.d  with  Glory  and  Honour,  iianding 
for  ever  in  thy  Prefence  at  the  right-hand  of  thy  • 
Majefty  to  make  Interccffion  for  us.     And  who  He b.  7.- 
can  doubt  the  aftedion  or  faccefs  of  that  Intercef- 
fion  ?  For  he  is  God  of  Thy  Subflance,  and  Man  of 
Ours  :    He  who  is  Thy  Son  is  alio  Oar  Brother, 
Bone  of  our  Bones,  and  Fkfn  cf  our  Flefh* 


CHAP.    XV. 

Ihat  the  Son  hath  paid  the  T)eht^  due  to  Divine 

Jziflice  for  us, 

TUrn  mt  afpay^  then  Ford,  the  face  of  thy  anoiTit*-  phij^  2. 
ed,  who  became  obedient  mto  deaths  even  the  death 
of  the  Oofs^  but  let  the  Scars  of  thofe  Woun  is  he 
received  .in  the  Body  be  ever  prefent  in  thy  fight, 
that  thou  mayit  always  recoiled,  how  ample  a  fa- 
tibfaction  for  the  Sins  of  Men  thou  haft  received 
at  his  hand.  O  that,  when  thou  weigheft  our 
Offences  in  the  Ballance,  thou  wouldefb  be  pleafed 
at  the  fame  time  to  make  the  Miferies,  which  thy 
own  finlefs  and  beloved  Son  endured  for  our  fakes, 
the  happy  counterpoife  to  them.  Tins, !  am  well 
affired,  v\^]  11  prove  the  heavier  Scale.  And  tho* 
our  wickednclFes  weigh  ui  down,  and  be  an  unfup- 
portable  Load,  conlider  d  in  thenifelves,  yet  more 
and  niightier  are  the  Merits  of  his  Sufferings  to 
incline  the  abundance  cf  thy  Mercy,  tiian  can  the 
heirioufnefs  or  our  Tranfgreiuons,  poiub'y  be  to 
provoke  thy  Indignation.  I  t'^ank  thee  therefore, 
heavenly  Fat'  er.  from  the  very  bottom  of  my 
Heart-  and  fit  i'  is  that  every  1  ongue  fhould 
jc^va.  in  feaiiig  forth  t'^e  Praifes  of  thy  unfpeak- 
ableGo  dneis,  w'dch  fpi^red  not  thy  on|y  Son, 
the  Son  of  thy  Love,  but  deliver  d  himnpforii':  all  '^^r^^^^ 

Z  Delivered  ^2/     ' 


I'lft        1  I  .■■        I      I  I       .    ril    ■ ^.1.   ,r 

344  MEDITATIONS. 


Delivered  him  to  a  moft  painful  ignominious 
Death,  that  fo  we  might  be  blelTed  with  fo  pow- 
erful an  Advocate,  fo  affedionate  a  Friend  in  the 
Court  of  Heaven,  to  plead  our  Caufc  fuccefsfuUy 
before  thee. 


CHAP.    XVI. 

The  Love  due  to  the  Son  for  his  Sufferings^ 


B 


UT,  O  fweeteft,  kindeft  Jefus,  how  fliall  I 
thaijlc  thee  as  I  ought,  or-what  requital  can 
I  make  for  thy  wonderful  Condefcenfion  ?  How 
is  it  poiTible  indeed,  that  Duft  and  Afhes,  as  I  am, 
the  meaneft  and  moft  unworthy  of  all  thy  Crea- 
tures, fhould  be  capable  of  any  return,  that  might 
bear  proportion  to  that  amazing  Excefsof  unmea- 
furable  Love,  which  I  am  not  capable  fo  much  as 
worthily  to  conceive?  What  could  be  done,  what 
could  be  thought  of,  for  my  Benefit  and  Salvati- 
on, which  thou  haft  not  fubmitted  to  do  for  me  > 
From  the  fole  of  the  foot  to  the  crown  of  the 
head,  thou  didft  plunge  thy  felf  in  fufferings  and 
Sorrows,  that  thou  mighteft  pluck  me  out,and  ref- 
cue  me  entirely  from  the  deep  Waters,  when  all 
the  waves  and  ftorms  of  Mifery  had  overwhelmed 
pfalm  6^,  me,  and  were  coine  in  even  unto  fny  Soul.  Thou 
countedft  not  thy  own  Life  dear  unto  thee,  but 
didft  pour  out  thy  Soul  unto  Death,  to  redeem 
that  forfeit  Life  of  mine,  over  which  Death,  en- 
tring  by  Sin,  had  gotten  the  Dominion.  Thus 
haft  thou  bound  me  to  thy  felf  by  a  double  Obli- 
gation :  And  I  am  now  thy  Debtor,  both  for  that 
which  thou  haft  reftored  to  me,  and  for  that  which 
thou  haft  laid  down  for  me.  And,  iince  my  Life 
is  thus  made  twice  thy  Gift,  firft  by  Creation, 
and  afterwards  by  Redemption,  how  can  I  make 
thee  better  Payment,  than  by  devoting  entirely 

to 


MED  IT  A  T  I  O  N  S.  545 


to  thee,  that  every  thing  which  I  received  from 
thee  ?    For  that  part  of  the  Debt  then  in  which 
my  Life  is  concerned,  fomewhat  1  have,  though 
very  fmall,  to  offer  thee  by  way  of  Satisfadlion  : 
But  for  thy  own  Life,  fo  precious,  and  yet  fo  ex- 
ceedingly afflided  for  my  fake,  I  muft  acknow- 
ledge my  felf  utterly  at  a  lofs,  and  am  fenfible  it 
is  not  in  the  Power  of  all  Mankind  to  make  Thee 
any  manner  of  Compenfation.     For,  though  I 
were  Mafter  of  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  all  the 
Glories  and  Treafures  of  both,  yet  could  I  not. 
Upon  thefe  Terms,  make  thee  a  Recompence  at  all 
fuitable  to  the  value  of  the  Debt  Nay,  even  that 
little,  which  I  am  bound,  and  qualified  to  do,  can- 
not be  done  without  thee  ^  and  if  I  give  thee  any 
thing  at  all,  it  is  becaufe  thoU  giveft  me  Power  to 
give  it.     Thou  art  pleafed  to  require,  and  moft 
reafonable  it  is,  that  I  fliould  love  thee  with  allmyMit.  lil 
heart  avd  with  all  my  fottl^  and  with  all  my  mind^ 
and  with  all  myjlrength  •  that  as  thou  hafi  left  me  an  i  Per*  2, 
example^  fo  I  Ihould  B^a/t  inthyfieps:  And  can  I 
diipute  my  engagement  to  live  to  Thee^  who  haft  ^  ^^^'  5- 
condefcended  not  only  to  live,  but  even  to  dye 
for  me  >     No,  dear  eft  Lord,  lam  duly  fenfible  of 
the  Obligation,  but  fenfible  withal,  that  this  obli* 
gation  can  never  be  difcharged  without  the  Afii- 
ftance  of  thy  Grace.     0  draw  methen^  that  t  may  Vt^lm  8d# 
run  after  thee,  hut  my  heart  to  thee^  that  T  may  love 
thy  Name  •,  and  let  my  Soul  cleave  ftedfaftly  to      ^ 
my  Lord  ;  for  lam  not  fitfficient  of  my  felf  to  do  or  ^  ^^^*  V 
think  any  thing  as  of  7ny  felf  but  all  my  fu^fftciertcy  is 
of  thee y  my  Lord  and  my  God. 


Z  2  CHAR 


346  MEDITATIONS. 

CHAP.    XVIL 

Jn  humble  AdJrefs  to  the  Son^ 

TO  Thee  therefore,  O  tlefTed  Jefus,  my  ten- 
der Redeemer,  my  merciful  Lord,  I  flee  for 
Succour  •,  I  acknowledge  and  adore  thee,  as  very 
God  ^  my  Faith,  my  Hope,  and  all  my  Defires  are 
fixt  on  thee  alone.     Not  as  I  would  indeed,  for 
alas  !    my  Faith  is  imperfect,  my  Hope  feeble, 
my  Defires  luke-warm  and  cold  •,  but,  O  do  thou 
ftrengthen  my  Weaknefs,  fupply  my  Defects,  in- 
flame my  Zeal,    and  where  I  cannot  attain  to 
what  I  ought,  accept  what  I  do,  for  what  I  would 
do  if  I  were  able.     In  the  mean  while,  to  render 
thefe  Inclinations  as  efredual  as  I  can,  I  will  fre- 
quently and  devoutly  meditate  upon  the  glorious 
Marks  and  Monuments  of  thy  bitter  Paifion.  I  fee 
with  Joy  that  once  derided  Crofs,  converted  now 
into  a  royal  Banner,  a  Trophy  of  the  glorious 
Conquefl:s  gained  by  thy  triumphant  Gofpel,  a 
Standard  fet  up  for  all  Nations  and  Kindreds  of 
the  Earth  to  come  into,  and  fight  under.     Thy 
Crown  of  Thorns,  thy  Nails  red  with  thy  Gore, 
the    Lance  that   pierced    thy  holy    Side,  thy 
Wounds,  thy  Blood,  thy  Death,  thy  Burial,  thy 
Refurredticn  from  the  Grave,  and  Exaltation  to 
the  Throne  ot  Glory,  fhall  be  the  Entertainment 
of  my  retired  Thoughts,  my  daily  Song,    my 
Boafl:,  and  the  glad  fubjedt  of  my  never-ceafing 
Praife.  For  every  one  of  thefe  confpire  to  quick- 
en my  Soul-,  and,  by  the  Contemplation  of  thy 
Death,  I  feel  a  Principle  of  new  and  fpiritual  Lite 
kindled  or  cherifhed  in  me,    O  make  thefe  Means 
cffedual  for  raifing  me  up  from  the  Death  of  Sin, 
no  more  to  return  to  corruption  !     Gaard  me,  I 
pray  thee,  from  the  fubtile  Infinuations  of  the 
Tempter,  ftrengthcn  and  defend  me  againft  his 

Affaults  Y 


MEDITATIONS.  347 


AlTanlrs  ^  make  the  Yoke  of  thy  Commandments 
eafy,  an-l  the  Burden  of  the  Crofs,  which  thou 
reqiiireft  me  to  carry  after  thee,  by  thy  fuftain- 
ing  comforts,  portable  and  light.  For  alas !  what 
llrengrh  have  T  without  thee,  or  how  is  i;  polilblo 
for  fuch  a  difabled  poor  Creature  to  bear  up  with 
Courage  and  Conftancy,  againft  the  vafl  variety 
of  Difafters  and  Trials,  which  the  Condition  of 
human  Life  is  perpetually  exercifed  with,  and 
thou  expedeft  I  fhould  fight  my  war  through  > 
Are  my  feet  like  Harts  feet,that  I  fhould  keep  pace 
with  Thee,  who  didft  fo  nimbly  run  through  the 
Briars  and  Thorns  of  Adveriities  and  Sufferings  > 
Hearken,  I  befeech  Thee,  to  the  Voice  of  thy  Ser- 
vant, and  lay  upon  me  that  fweet  Crofs  of  thine, 
which  is  a  Tree  of  Life  to  them  that  lay  hold  on 
it,  that  I  may  finifh  my  Courfe  faithfully  and 
cheerfully.  O  that  my  Shoulders  might  be  worthy 
to  bear  that  Divine  Myftical  Crofs  :  The  breadth 
whereof  is  a  moll  extenlive  Charity,  taking  in  e- 
very  Creature  ^  the  length  whereof  is  Eternity,the 
height  Omnipotence,  and  the  depth  unfearchable 
Wifdom.  Let  my  Hands  and  my  Feet  be  nailed 
to  this  Crofs,  and  do  thou  vouchfafe  to  thy  Ser- 
\^ant  the  favour  of  being  conformed  to  thy  like- 
nefs,  and  adting  over  again  inm}^  Soul  thefeveral 
Stages  of  my  blefTed  Mailer's  Pajuon. 

Enable  me,  I  humbly  pray  thee,  to  abHainfrom 
the  Works  of  the  Flefh,  which  thou  hatefl,  to  per- 
form diligently  the  Works  of  Righteoufnefs,  which 
thou  lovefl  •,  and  both  in  the  Evil  I  decline,  and 
in  the  Good  I  perform,  to  feek  not  my  own,  but 
thy  Glory:  Sofhall  my  Left-hand  be  faflned  as  it 
were  to  thy  Crofs  by  the  Nail  of  lemperartce,  and 
ray  Right-hand,  by  that  ofjfujiice.  Let  my  Soul  be 
continually  exercifing  and  delighting  it  felf  in  the 
Law  of  my  God,  direding  all  its  thoughts  to,  and 
calling  all  its  cares  upon  Thee  ^  and  then  I  fhall 
imagine  my  right  Foot  fixed  to  this  myftical  Tree 

Z  %  of 


j48  MEDITATIONS. 

of  Life,  bv  the  Nail  of  Friidefice.     Grant  that  my; 
fenfual  Affedions  may  always  continue  in  fubfcr- 
vience  to  my  reafonable  mind  •,  fufFer  not  the  trea- 
cherous, and  even  affliding  Profperities  of  the 
"World  to  emaf  ulate  my  Soul,  nor  the  profitable 
Adverfities  of  it  to  diftnrb  or  confound  my  purfuit 
of  eternal  Rewards  •,  fo  fhall  I  be  fafe  from  unman- 
ly Fears  and  effeminate  Defires,  and  I  fhall  look 
upon  my  Left  Foot  to  be  faflen'd  to  thy  Crofs  by 
the  Nail  of  Forthvde.     Work  in  me  alfo  fome  re- 
fem>blance  to  thy  Crown  of  Thorns^  by  wounding 
my  Spirit  with  a  true  and  tender  Compunction  for 
my  paft  Sins,  by  a  Remorfe  eftedlual  to  Repen- 
tance, by  a  fellow-feeling  for  the  Sufferings  of  my 
Brethren,  by  ho\y  and  adive  Zeal  for  that  whieh 
is  well-pleafing  in  thy  fight-  and  by  taking  San- 
fluary  in  thee  whenfoever  Troubles  or  Afflidions 
of  any  Sort  fhall  threaten  oropprefs  me.  I  fhould 
be  likewife  exceeding  glad  if  thou  wouldfl:  put 
thy  Spofige  upon  a  Reed  to  my  Mouth,  and  m.ake  me 
fometimes  tafle   the  fharpnefs  of  thy  Vi'>Jegar  •,  I 
mean,   if  by  the  wholfome  Inftrudions   of  thy 
holy  Word,  thou  would'ft  convince  my  Reafon, 
how  juflly  the  World,  even  in  its  mofl  flattering 
and  ficurifhing  Circumflance,  may  be  compared 
to  an  empty  Sponge^  and  all  the  love  and  anxious 
defire  of  it  to  naufeous  and  griping  Vhiegar,  Thus 
let  me  be  dealt  with,  O  merciful  Father,  that  the 
golden  Cup  of  Babylon,  which  intoxicates  all  the 
Children  of  this  Generation,  may  neither  feduce 
me  with  its  bewitching  Gayeties,  nor  make  m.e 
drunk  with  its  falfe  and  fickly  Lufcioufnefs,  as  it 
does  Thofe    miferably  deluded    Men,    who  pvt 
Darknefsfor  Light,  and  Light  for  Darknefs,  Bitter  for 
Sweet,  and  Sweet  for  Bitter,     The  Wine  of  Myrrhs 
singled  with  Gall  I  ask  not,  becaufe  thou  didfl  thy 
felf  refufe  to  drink  of  it.    Poflibly,  for  that  it  re- 
prcfented  the  bitternefs  of  Envy,  and  that  in- 
flexible Malice,  which  tranfported  thy  Crucifiers 

to 


MEDITATIONS.  549 

■  '     '  ■  I       ■  ■    I  II    n  ■■■ 

to  fuch  a  barbarous  Excefs  of  Wickednefs  and 
Rage. 

But  above  all,  I  befeech  thee,  let  thy  llfe-giving 
Death  be  moft  exadly  reprefented  in  my  whole 
Converfation,  that  I  may  be  efFedtually  dead  unto 
Jin  after  theftefi^  but  alive  unto  right e on fnefs^  thro^  the 
Spirit,  And,  that  I  may  obtain  the  Privilege  of  ha- 
ving  no  particular  Paflage  of  my  crucified  Lord's 
Likenefs  left  unimprefs'd  upon  me,  produce  in  me,  • 
I  befeech  thee,  a  ftri6t  Conformity  even  to  that 
Inftance  of  infatiable  Malice,  which  thy  implaca? 
ble  Enemies  aded  upon  thy  Body  after  Death.. 
Let  thy  Word,  quick  and  powerful,  ftrikc  thro' 
my  very  Soul,  let  it  reach  to  the  moft  fecret 
thoughts  and  intents  of  my  heart,  and  cut  fharper 
than  the  keeneft  Lance  •,  that  as  the  Blood  and 
Water  ftarted  from  thy  Side  in  great  abundance, 
fo  from  my  Heart  thus  pierced,  may  overflow  the 
Love  of  thee,  ipy  deareft  Lord,  and  my  Fellowr 
Chriftians.  Finally,  wrap  thou  my  Soul  in  the 
clean  Linen  of  Ipaqcence  and  Holinefs,  that 
when  it  fhall  depart  this  mortal  Body,  I  may  reft 
in  Peace  aud  Hope  ^  that  thou  may'ft  hide  me  in 
the  BedofDuft,  till  thy  Father's  Indignation  be 
overpafs'd  •,  and  that,  when  I  awake  up  after  thy 
Likenefs,  I  may  enter  with  thee  into  the  blifsful 
Manlions  of  thy  heavenly  Dwelling. 


CHAP.    XVIII. 

Of  our  Lord^s  RefurreEiion, 

THUS  fhall  I  not  only  he  planted  together  with  Rom.  6-  u 
my  Lord,  in  the  likenefs  of  his  death^  but  alfa 
in  the  likenefs  of  his  RefurreUion.  And  on  the  third 
day,  after  the  day  of  reft,  and  when  the  Morning    • 
pf  the  eternal  Sabbath  fhall  begin  to  dawn,  thou 
Ihalt  reftore  thy  moft  unworthy  Servant  to  a 

Z  4  ,  new 


350  MEDITATION  S- 


J.b  X  .  new  and  better  Life  :  Then  llia'i  I  in  this  Fleili  of 
mine,  fee  the  Majrfty  of  my  triumphant  Redeem" 
er,  and  be  filled  with  the  Joj  of  th yCcuntenance. 
O  Aij  rnofl:  merdfil  Saviour,  and  rny  God,  haften, 
jiaften,  I  bef:ech  thee,  that  long-wiih'd  for  Day  ; 
2  Cor.  3:  that  wiat  I  vow  hchoU  with  t.heeyesoff.iith,  avd 
*^-  asinapliCsoyily,  I  then  may  fee  diftin.ily,  and 

with  open  face  :  That  w'  at  I  now  reach  forward 
to  by  a  difiant  Hope,  I  then  may  be  in  adual 
and  full  polfeilionof^  tha-  w'-at  I  now  deiire  ac- 
cording ^o  my  poor  Capacity,  I  then  may  grafp 
and  hold  fail,  be  raviftud  with  in  the  Enjoyment 
of-,  and  be  entirely  fwallowed  up  in  the  Abyfs  of 
thy  rapturous  Love  :  O  mofl:  merciful  Saviour,  O 
my  mcft  glorious  G  ^d  •,  fdin  would  I  expatiate 
upon  this  delightful  Theme,  and  even  now  antici- 
pate the  Joys  of  thy  glorious  Prefence  ^  but  Words 
are  too  weak,  and  Thoughts  too  narrow,  fur  t  e 
unequal  Subjedt :  And  therefore  let  me  rather  ap- 
ply m  felf  to  v/hat  my  prefent  Condition  is  qua- 
lified f-r.  Praife  then  the  Lord,  O  my  Soul,  and 
magnify  the  Mercies  of  thy  companionate  Jefus. 
Tell  it  out  among  all  the  World,  how  exceeding 
gracious  tie  hatn  been  to  thee,  and  give  him  the 
Honours  due  to  that  charming  Name  •  for  hii 
Name  only  is  excellent,  and  his  Praife  above  Hea^ 
ven  and  Earth. 


CHAP.     XIX. 
A  Prayer  to  the  Holy  Trinity. 

O  How  plentiful  is  thy  Goodnefs,  O  how  tran- 
fporting  fweet  thy  Mercy,  deareft  Lord 
Jefus,  to  every  Soul  that  feeks  and  thirfts  after 
Thee  !  Jefus,  thou  Releafer  of  them  that  are  in 
Captivi  ty,thou  Reitorer  of  them  that  are  loft,thou 
Hope  of  them  that  ^re  in  exile,  thou  Strength  of 

them 


MEDITATIONS.  751 


them  that  are  weak,  thou  Refrefhment  of  them 
that  langiiiili  and  faint,  thou  Enlargement  of  them 
that  are  ftraitned,  thou  Comfort  of  every  forrow- 
fulSoul  ^  jfefiis,  thcu  Support  and  fure  Defence 
of  then  that  fight  manfully  •    J^/w-S  thou  bright 
Crr  wa  cf  all  that  conquer  in  the  fpiritual  War- 
fare ',  thou  on";y  Reward  of  the  Faithful,  thou  Joy 
unfpeakable  of  all  the  Citizens  of  the  heavenly 
Jenifalem  •  Jefiis^  thou  inexhauftible  Source  of  all 
Virtues  and  Graces^  y^/wi,thou  glorious  Offspring 
of  the  moft  High  God.  O  thy  feif  God  moft  high  •, 
be  thou  ever  praiied  and  adored  by  every  Crea- 
ture in  Heaven  above,  and  in  the  Earth  beneath  ^ 
for  Great  art  Thou,  and  canfl  not  worthily  be 
praifed.     O  ever  Blooming,  ever  refulgent  Beauty 
of  the  Majefty  above,  thou  brighteft  Beam   of 
everlafting  Light,  thou  Life  by  whofe  genial  In- 
fluence every  living  Creature  lives  •,  thou  Light 
from  whofe  Reflexion  every  thing  fhines,  and  by 
the  Communicartion  of  whofe  Rays  it  is,   that 
thoufands  of  millions  of  thoufands  of  glorious  Spi- 
rits, preferve  the  refplendent  Brightnefs  Ihed  by 
thee  upon  them,  and  all  the  glittering  Hofts  of 
Eleaven  ftand  round  about  the  Throne  of  thy 
Glory,  ever  lince  Tim.e  was.    O  eternal  and  ever- 
lafting,  O  pure  and  clear  Stream,  ifliiing  from  that 
Fountain^  which  no  humane  Eyes  can  difcover  ^  a 
Fountain  without  any  firft  rife,  a  Current  without 
any  bottom,  whofe  Waters  no  Banks  circumfcribe, 
no  Soil  pollutes  or  troubles  :    The  Mind  of  the 
moft  High  God  produced  thee  out  of  the  unfa- 
thomable Depth  of  his  own  infinite  Capacity  : 
Thus  thou  art  Life  of  Life,  Light  of  Light,  very 
God  of  very  God,  an  eternal  and  incomprehenfible 
Son  of  an  eternal  and  incomprehenfible  Father  ^ 
of  the  fame  Subftance  and  equal  Perfedtions  with 
him  that  begat  thee  •  in  whom  all  thefidnefs  of  the 
Godhead  dwells,  and  cf  whofe  fulnefs  we  have  all 
received,  in  fuch  proportions  of  thy  Spirit  as  our 

•¥-  frail 


352  MEDITATIONS. 

frail  State  admits,  as  our  necelTities  require,  as 
thou  in  thy  unerring  Wifdom  feeft  moft  expedient 
for  us. 

And  Thou,  O  plenteous  Source  of  every  good 
and  every  perfed  Gift,  fhed  abroad  the  cheering 
Light  of  thy  feven-fold  Grace  o'er  my  Heart. 
Yea,  Spirit  of  Love  and  Goodnefs,  I  moft  hum- 
bly im.plore  thy  feafonable  aififtances.Thou  know- 
eft  my  Faults,  my  Failings,  and  my  Neceffities  : 
The  dimnefs  of  my  Underftanding,  the  inordina- 
cy  and  vehemence  of  my  AfFedions,  and  the  per- 
v^rfenefs  of  my  Will.  When  therefor^  thou  ob- 
ferveft  (as  obferve  conftantly  thou  doffc  j  that  I, 
who  am,  alas !  exceeding  frail,  am  not  fufficient- 
ly  inftruded  in  the  knowledge  of  thy  Will  •,  or  if 
I  know,  but  f  through  giddinefs  or  inadvertency, 
or  drawn  off  by  the  byafs  of  Flefti  i:nd  Senfe)  I 
negledl  to  pradife  what  I  know  ^  vifit  me,  I  be- 
feech  thee,  with  thy  Grace.  Enlighten  my  Mind, 
redify  my  Defires,  corred  my  Wandrings,  and 
pardon  my  Omiflions  ^  that  fo  I,  who  invoke  thee 
here  as  my  Pilot,  to  condud  me  through  this 
rough  and  hazardous  Sea  of  Life,  may,  by  thy 
guidance  be  preferved  from  making  Shipwreck  of 
Faith  and  a  good  Confcience,  and  at  length  be  fafe 
landed  at  the  Haven  of  eternal  Reft.  Laftly,  To 
Thee  I  make  my  Prayer,  moft  merciful  Father, 
that  Thou,  who  gaveft  me  Being  by  thy  creating 
Power,  and  fince  didft  give  me  a  new  and  better 
Being,  by  the  Sufferings  of  thy  only  begotten 
Son,  and  Regeneration  through  him,  wouldft  work 
in  me  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  thy  good  Pleafure  • 
and  fix  my  Thoughts  and  Affections  upon  fuch 
Objeds  only,  as  conduce  to  thy  Honour,  and  my 
own  Salvation.  And,  lince  my  Frailties  are  great, 
and  1  cannot  do  what  I  ought  and  would,  pre- 
ferve  in  me  a  due  care  to  make  my  Peace  wjth 
thee  daih'^,  by  Confellion  of  my  paft  Faults,  by  di- 
ligent Examinations  of  my  Confcience,  and  Re- 

t  folutians 


MEDITATIONS.  ?S3 

folutions  of  living  better,  and  growing  every  Day 
more  and  more  in  Goodnefs,  till  at  length  I  obtain 
the  Benefits  purchafed  for  me  by  my  dear  Re- 
deemer. And  then,  whatever  good  Work  I  fhall 
be  enabled  to  do  by  thy  Grace,  grant  that  they 
may  all  turn  entirely  to  thy  Glory:  Help  me,  I 
befeech  thee,  to  gain  fuch  Conquefts  over  my 
Sins,  and  fortify  me  fo  efFedlually  againft  Temp- 
tations, and  grant  me  to  advance  fo  profperoufly 
in  the  Ways  of  Holinefs,  that  all  the  time  I  fhall 
continue  in  this  mortal  Body,  I  may  be  perpe- 
tually Aomg  thee  acceptable  Service  in  feme 
kind  or'otirer/uch^as  thyProvidence  fhall  call  me 
to.  And  when  this  Life  fhall  end,  Lord,  of  thy 
infinite  Mercy  grant  me  an  entire  remifTion  of  all 
my  Sins,  and  reward  my  imperfect  Obedience 
with  eternal  Life.  All  which  I  beg  for  his 
Merits  and  Mediation,  who  dyed  to  pur- 
chafe  it  for  fincere  Penitents  and  true  Belie- 
vers, and  who  now  liveth  and  reigneth  with 
Thee,  One  God  World  without  end.    AiJten. 


De- 


355 


Devout  Medhatiom  of  St.  Ber- 
nard ;  With  regard  to  the  State 
of  Humane  Nature.  Other-' 
wife  called^  His  Book  of  the 
Soul. 


BOOK  VIII. 


CHAP.    L 

The  Dignity  of  Man^  with  regard  to  his  Soul. 

Any  are  deeplylearnedinvariety  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  and  all  the  while  con-** 
tinue  as  profoundly  ignorant  of  them- 
felves  :  They  are  inquiiitive  about  the  Af- 
fairs of  other  Men,  and  perfedlly  void  of  thought 
or  care  for  their  own.  Nay,  even  in  their  moil 
ufeful  and  necefTary  Studies,  where  God  is  the 
Subjed  of  the  Enquiry,  they  think  to  find  him 
in  the  things  without  them,  and  overlook  the 
evidences  of  him  within  their  own  Breafts  :  None 
of  which,  though  within  them,  is  yet  fo  intimate 
and  clofe  to  them.,  as  God.  I  defire  then  that  I 
may  proceed  in  a  quite  contrary  Method,  and 
from  External.,  retire  to  htternal  Evidences  ^  fromi 
Objeds  with}}!.,  rife  up  to  thofe  above  me  •,  that  by 
thefel  may  at  laft  under ftand,from  whence  I  come, 
aind  whither  I  am  bound  ^  what  I  am^  why  I  am, 

and 


5  56  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  O  N  S. 


and  from  whom  I  am  ^  that  fo  this  knowledge  of 
my  felf  may  lead  me  up  to  the  knowledge  of  God. 
For  the  more  perfect  iinderftanding  I  have  of  my 
own  Condition,  the  nearer  I  fliall  approach  to, 
and  advance  proportionably  towards  the  right un- 
derftanding  of  the  Divine  Nature  and  Perfefti- 
ons. 

Now  when  I  turn  my  e^^-es  inward,  I  difcover 
three  diftinct  faculties  in  my  Soul,  wherehy  I  am 
qualified  to  remember,  and  contemplate,  and  de« 
£re  God.  Thefe  are  the  Memory,  the  Under- 
ftandiijg,  and  the  Will.  By  the  fir  J}  of  which  I 
recoiled,  by  the  feco7id  I  difcern,  and  by  the  hji  I 
love  and  embrace  him.  When  I  refled  upon 
God,  I  find  him  in  my  Memory,  and  delight  in 
him  by  thofe  Remembrances,  according  to  that 
meafure  of  fatisfadion,  which  he  is  pleafed  to  im- 
part to  me.  By  my  intelligent  faculty,  I  fee  what 
God  is  in  himfelf,  what  in  his  Angels  and  Saints, 
what  in  Men,  and  the  other  Works  of  his  Hands  ^ 
each  of  which  contribute  to  the  manifeftation  of 
his  excellencies.  In  himfelf  he  is  incomprehenfible, 
the  Beginning  and  the  End,  the  Beginning  with- 
out Conclufion,  the  End  without  any  more  excel- 
lent End  to  which  it  is  ultimately  referred.  The 
Confideration  of  my  felf  convinces  me  how  far 
God  mufL  needs  exceed  all  comprehenfion,  be- 
caufe  I  find  my  felf  unable  perfedly  to  underftand 
my  felf  ',  who  yet  am  but  one  of  his  Creatures. 
Confider'd  in  the  Angels,  He  appears  lovely  and 
defirable,  becaufe  their  conftant  Happinefs  and 
Employment  is  to  behold  and  look  into  him.  In 
the  Saints  I  find  him  full  of  delight,  becaufe  thofe 
blefTed  Spirits  rejoyce  in  him.  In  the  Creatures 
he  appears  wonderful,  becaufe  creating  all  things 
by  his  Power,  governing  all  things  by  his  Wif^ 
dom,  and  difpoling  all  things  by  a  good  and  kind 
Providence, 

In 


MEDITATIONS.  357 


In  Men  he  is  the  moft  worthy  Objedl  of  Love, 
becaufe  he  is  their  God,  and  they  are  his  people. 
He  dwells  in  them,  as  in  his  own  houfe,  and  they 
•are  his  Temple  in  which  his  Divine  Prefence  re- 
fides.  He  does  not  difdain  the  whole  Species,  nor 
any  individual  Perfonof  it.  Who  ever  remembers, 
and  underftands,  and  loves  him^  the  fame  is  with 
him.  We  ought  to  hvehhn,  hecaiife  he  firji  loved  us.  He  i  Joh.4.9: 
made  ns  after  his  own  Im.age,  in  his  own  likenefs, 
which  was  a  Privilege  vouchfafed  to  no  other 
Creature  befides.    Now,  when  we  are  faid  to  be 
made  after  God's  Image,  the  myftical  Meaning  may 
be,  that  we  are  made  to  underftand  and  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  Son,  by  whom  we  come  to  an 
underftanding  of  and  acquaintance  with  thfe  Fa- 
ther •,  and  gain  accefs  to  Him.    So  near  is-  the    ■ 
Relation  between  us   and  the  Son  of  God,  that 
the  Son  of  God  is  himfelf  the  exprefs  Image  of 
the  Father  *,  and  we  are  made  after  that  Image  of 
him.    And  this  nearnefs  of  Relation  is  farther  iig- 
nifiedby  faying  that  we  are  made  after  his  likenefs,  q^^^  j> 
and  not  only  in  his  Image.    For  that  which  is  made  :j5- 
in  the  Image  of  another,  muft  agree  with  the  Ori- 
ginal Model,  and  not  only  partake  of  an  empty 
Nam.e,  without  any  real  Similitude  to  juftify  it. 

Let  us  be  careful  then  to  exprefs  thislikenefs,and 
make  our  refemblance  to  God  appear  in  the  defire 
of  Peace,  the  contemplation  of  Truth,  and  the 
love  of  Charity.  Let  us  keep  God  in  our  remem- 
brance, carry  him  in  our  Confciences,  and  be- 
have our  felves  with  that  Deference  and  Refpect, 
becoming  men  that  believe  him  to  be  always  prefent 
with  them.  For  it  is  in  this  regard,  that  our  mind 
is  his  Image,  as  it  is  capable  of  receiving  and  par-  • 
taking  of  him.  It  is  for  that  reafon  his  Image,  be- 
caufe,  like  him,  it  remembers,  underftands,  and 
loves  it  felf  5  and  more  efpecially  becaufe  while  it 
does  fo,  it  is  capable  of  riling  higher,  by  remem- 
bring,  confidering,  and  loving  its  Maker  ,  in  the 

do- 


:?58  MEDITATIONS. 


.  doing  whereof  confifts  its  true  improvement  and 
Wifdom.  For  nothing  comes  fo  near  to  that  per- 
fedwifdom  above^as  the  rational  mind  •,  which  by 
its  three  faculties,  of  Memory,  Underftanding  and 
Will,  fubfifts  in  that  inexplicable  Trinity  of  the 
Divine  Perfons,  as  an  Image  does  in  its  Original. 
But  in  that  Original  it  does  not  triily  fubfift, 
except  in  conformity  to  it,  it  remember,  and  con- 
iider,  and  love  it.  Let  it  therefore  be  careful  to 
remember  that  God,  after  whofe  Image  it  was 
made,  let  it  endeavour  to  underitand  and  love 
Him,  by  whom  it  is  endued  with  a  Capacity  of 
being  for  ever  happy,  together  with  himfelf. 

For  happy  is  that  Soul,  vvith  whom  God  takes 

up  his  Refidence,  makes  it  the  place  of  his  Reft. 

•     Happy,  which  can  fay.  He  that  formed  me^  hath 

lodged  and  dwelt  hi  my  tabernacle -^  for  to  fuch  a  one, 

he  cannot  deny  the  reft  of  Heaven.  When  then  do 

we  go  out  of  our  felves,  and  feek  God  in  external 

Objeds,  who  all  the  while  is  with  and  in  us,  if 

we  do  but  make  it  our  Bufinefs  to  be  with  and  in 

Him  ?  For  he  is  certainly  with  and  in  Us  at  pre- 

fent  by  a  lively  Faith,  which  is  all  the  Union  we 

can  attain  to,  till  he  admit  us  to  fee  him  Face  to 

Ephef,  9.  Face.  Thus  the  Apoftle  fays  ^  we  know  that  Chri^ 

^7*  dwelleth  hi  our  hearts  by  Faith  •  for  Chrift  is  in  our 

Faith,  Faith  in  our  Soul,  the  Soul  in  our  Heart, 

the  Heart  in  our  Breaft.     By  Faith  tlien  I  refledt 

upon  and  remember  God  in  the  quality  of  my 

-Creator,  I  adore  him  as  my  Redeemer,  I  wait  for 

him  as  my  Saviour.    I  believe  that  J  fee  him  in 

all  his  Creatures,  that  I  have  him  in  my  felf,  and 

(  which  is  unfpeakably  more  pleafant  and  happy 

than  all  the  reft  )  that  I  know  him  as  he  is.    For 

John  J  7.  to  know  the  Father,  and  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft,  is 

?•  Life  eternal'^  confummate  Felicity,  and  the  very 

Perfection  of  Tranfport  and  Delight. 


No 


M  E  D  I   f   A  r  1  O  N  S.  j^g 

No    mortal  can  conceive,    how    bright,  how 
fweet,  how  ravifhing  we  fhall  find  that  Vifion  to 
be,  when  we  (hall  fee  God  Face  to  Face  ^  that  Light 
of  them  who  fliine  by  his  reflexion  ^  that  Repofe 
of  them  who  have  been  exercifed  by  labours  and 
fufterings  •,  that  Country  of  them  who  are  called 
home  from  exile  •  that  Life  of  them  that  live-  the 
Crown  of  them  that  overcome.      In  the  mean 
while  the  Image  of  that  blefTed  glorious  Trinity, 
^hich  I  find  in  my  own  Soul,  teaches  me,  that  I 
ought  to  make  the  rem.embrance,  and  knowledge, 
and  love  of  that  Trinity  which  I  refemble,  the 
ihain  defign  of  all  my  adions,  and  the  chief  end  of 
living.     For  the  Mind  is  the  likenefs  of  God,  and 
in  it  are  three  Powers,  Memory,  Underitanding, 
and  "Will.  "We  attribute  our  advancement  in  know- 
ledge to  Memory,  though  this  be  not  ftridly  the 
Faculty  by  which  we  think.  "We  attribute  all  our 
Knowledge  to  the  Underftanding  alfo,  becaufe  by 
thinking  we  find  out  the  truth,which  when  found, 
we  commit  to  the  cuftody  of  our  Memory.    Me- 
mory is  more  particularly  our  refemblance  to  the 
Father,  our  Underftanding  to  the  Son,  and  our 
"Will  to  the  Holy  Ghoft.     No  part  ot  us  is  fo  like 
the  Holy  Spirit,  as  our  "Will  or  Love  :    And  kind 
AfFedion  is  nothing  elfe  than  a  modification  and 
exaltation  ot  the  Will,  in  that  which  is  its  proper 
excellence.     Love  is  not  only  the  Gift,  but  the  i  Job.  4* 
beft  gift  ol  God  :     For  that  love  which  is  of  God, 
and  w^ich  God  is,  is  properly  ftiled  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit   by  which  the  love  of  God  is  fhed  abroad  in 
our  Hearts,  and  all  the  Trinity  dwells  in  us 


A  ^  C  S  A  R 


36o  MEDITATIONS. 


-i^ 


CHAP.    II. 

The  Miftry  of  Man^mth  refpeBtoMsT^ody. 

SUch  are  the  priviledges  of  the  Inward  Man,  tut 
the  condition  of  my  Outward  is  very  different. 
For  in  this  refpect,  I  owe  my  being  to  Parents, 
who  propagated  to  me  that  contagion  which  even 
before  I  was  born  rendredme  liable  to  damnation.. 
How  could  it  be  othcrwife,  when  Sinners  begat 
'a^'SmneFih  their  Sin,  and  nourifhed  him  of  Sin  > 
So  that  from  them  I  derive  nothing  but  mifery  and 
fin,  and  that  corruptible  body  which  I  carry  a- 
bout  with  me.  And  after  them  I  am  going  apace, 
who  are  removed  out  of  this  World  by  the  death 
of  the  body  before  me.  I  look  into  the  Graves  of 
my  Anceftors,  and  find  nothing  there,  but  dufi 
and  worms,  Itench  and  horrour.  And  yet  what 
I  now  am,  thefe  verj^  lately  were.  And  what  they 
are  now,  I  ihall  as  certainly  be  in  a  little  time.  For 
what  alas !  is  this  body,  but  a  little  Matter  curdled 
into  flefh,  and  by  degrees  fafhioned  till  I  came  ta 
maturity  for  the  birth  >  Thus  was  I  born  Man,and 
entring  into  the  World  with  cries  and  tears,  was 
turned  loofe  into  it  to  fojourn  for  a  while  ^  and 
when  this  pilgrimage  is  at  an  end,  I  Ihall  expire 
fall  of  guilt  and  corruption.  For  the  time  haftens- 
towards  me,  when  I  mufl:  be  brought  before  a  fe- 
vere  Judge,  and  called  to  render  an  account  of  all 
that  ever  was  done  by  me,  whilft  upon  Earth. 

But  Ob  1  what  confufion,  what  mifery  fhall  o-^ 
verwhelm  me  then,  when  that  Day  of  Enquiry 
iliall  con^e,  and  the  Books  of  remembrance  ihall 
be  opened, in  which  not  only  my  adlions,  but  the 
very  thoughts  of  my  heart  are  faithfully  regiftredy 
and  fliall  ht  every  one  recited  before  my  Lord  and 
Judge >  Then  Ihall  this  linful  Creature  hang  down 

hk> 


MEDITATIONS.  361 


his  head,  andJftand  trembling  and  perplexed  with 
the  reproaches  of  a  guilty  Confcience,  and  the 
amazing  recolleftions  of  former  Offences.  For 
thefe  (hall  rife  up  and  refreih  my  Memory,  when 
it  Ihall  be  faid,  Behold  the  Man  and  his  Deeds,  The 
Power  and  Providence  of  God  fo  ordering  the 
matter,  that  by  a  miraculous  Operadon,  there 
fliall  not  any  good  or  evil  thing  done  through 
the  whole  courfe  of  my  life  be  abfent,  but  all  ap- 
pear in  an  inftant,  and  at  once  crowd  in,  and  pre- 
Tent  themfelves  diftindly  to  my  thoughts,  to  bear 
teftimony  for  or  againft  me.  And  thus  fliall  all 
manldnd  together,  and  eachperfon  fingly  be  judg- 
ed before  the  Tribunal  of  the  Great  and  Juft  God. 
It  is  to  little  purpofe,that  we  lay  fo  many  contri- 
vances for  Ihifts  and  fecrefy ,  and  ftrive  to  hide  out 
Ihame  •  for  what  we  now  bluih  to  own,  fhall 
then  be  laid  open  to  the  whole  World  •,  and  what 
we  labour  to  difguife,  Ihall  be  expofed  in  its  true 
colours  •,  and  all  our  artifice  and  hypocrify  like 
ftubble,  periih  in  that  fire,  the  tryal  whereof  no- 
thing but  Sincerity  and  Innocence  can  abide.  And 
the  longer  God  forbears  us  in  order  to  our  amend- 
ment, the  heavier  will  our  account  be  for  abufing 
his  patience,  and  negieding  the  precious  oppor- 
tunities afforded  us  for  fecond  and  better  thoughts. 
Why  ihould  we  then  be  fo  immoderately  fond 
of  a  life,  which  cannot  be  prolonged  but  by  a  pro- 
portionable addition  to  the  number  of  our  crimes  > 
For  every  Day  inflames  the  Reckoning  ♦,  Our  fins 
grow  upon  us',  and  ( too  generally  fpeaking  J  our 
vertues  languifhanddecreafe.That  Man  7iever  co7i- 
tiniies  in  onejlay^  is  as  true  with  regard  to  his  fpiri- 
tual,as  hisnatural  life.  The  profperous  and  adverfe 
Events  make  each  of  them  fom.e  change  in  his 
temper  and  condition  •,  and  howfoon  or  how  late 
death  will  put  an  end  to  thefe  he  cannot  at  all  tel]» 
^Fo£as  a  Star  th^at^litters  in  the  hea>:en^^^ 
courIeTwiftIy;andTuddenlyfal^^^ 


362  MEDITATIONS. 


the  life  of  Man3  fwiftinits  pairage,fhort  in  its  con- 
tinuance, ancl  fudden  in  its  concTufronjTfiow^Ffen 
do  we  fee  Men  intent  tipofi  nothing  but  diver flon, 
or  laying  defigns  for  many  years  to  come,  fnatcht 
away  in  a  moment,  and  the  Soul  compelled  to  take 
a  very  abrupt  leave  of  the  body  ?  And  thefe  two 
then,  God  knows,  cannot  part  without  mighty 
confternation,  and  many  acute  Pains.  For  the 
Angels  ftand  ready  ta  conduct  the  Soul  to  judg- 
ment, and  bring  it  to  the  dreadful  bar  of  their  juft 
God.  And  the  refiedions  on  all  the  grievous  Of- 
fences committed  night  and  day  rife  up  and  terrify 
her  *,  make  her  wifli  above  all  things  that  flie  could 
efcape,  nay,  that  {he  could  put  off  the  trj^al  ^  and 
obtain  leave  but  for  one  poor  hour  to  provide  bet- 
ter for  this  important  Day,  and  endeavour,  if  pof- 
iible,  to  make  her  peace  with  God. 

Then  fhall  the  Man's  Works  challenge  him  •,  and 
as  it  were  all  crying  out  with  one  voice,  fay,  ThoJi 
hajl  done  us,  we  are  thine  •  we  will  not  hefialcen  cff^  hut 
Jlich  clofe  totbee^  and  bear  thee  cojnpany  tojudpnent. 
Then  fhall  every  Sin  ftart  up,  and  load  the  Wretch 
with  innumerable  Aggravations.  Nay,  to  the  true 
fhall  add  falfe  teftimonies,  and  invent  unneceflary 
Ijes,  unnecefTary  to  be  fure,  fince  even  the  truth, 
<ilas  !  is  what  would  more  than  fuffice  to  convi£t 
and  condemn  Men.  At  the  fame  time  the  Devils 
fhall  fcare  iinners  with  their  ghaftly  faces,  and  fly 
at  themwitli  implacable  fury,hurr3^ing  them  down 
to  the  bottomlefs  pit  immediately,  unlefs  fome 
feafon;4)le  deliverer  ftep  in  beiwixt  them,  and  re- 
Icue  this  prey  out  of  the  miouths  of  theLions.Theii 
ihall  the  Soul,  finding  the  Eyes  Ihut,  and  all  the 
other  Senfes  difabled,  by  which  Ihe  ufed  to  go  in 
and  out,  and  revel  in  fenfualObjedls,  return  into  it 
felf,and  finding  it  felf  deftitute  and  naked,fink  and 
dye  away  with  horrour  under  its  burden.  And  in 
return  for  its  unfaithfulnefs  in  forfaking  the  love 
cf  God  for  that  cf  the  world  and  the  fiefhp  fhall  be 

abau- 


M  E  D  1  T  AT  I  ON  S.  36^ 


abandoned  in  her  greateft  Extremity,  and  left  of 
God  to  be  tormented  by  Devils  in  endlefs  Mifery. 
Thus  fhall  the  Sinners  Soul  be  required  of  him,  in 
a  Da)^  that  he  thinhth  not^  and  an  hour  that  he  Is 
vot  aware  of-^  torn  from  the  bod}^  and  carried  off 
with  grief  and  trembling  *,  and  having  no  Excufe 
to  alledge  in  mitigation  of  its  Guilt,  not  be  able 
to  fupport  the  Dread  of  being  called  to  Account 
before  God. 

Ah  !  who  can  conceive  that  horrour  and  con- 
fufion  of  thought,  which  when  the  Flefh  is  jufl 
upon  thebrink  of  DiiTolution,  and  all  the  Friends 
and  comforts  of  this  World  forfake  him,  fhall  feize 
the  Sinner,upon  the  approach  of  that  State  which 
he  is  now  entring  into,  and  knows  that  it  fhall 
never  have  an  end  ^  that  refiedls  how  fevere  an  in- 
quifition  the  eternaljudge  will  make,and  finds  him- 
felf  at  a  lofs  what  Account  to  render  of  his  Life  ? 
While  it  was  in  his  Power  to  have  done  better, 
he  induflrioufly  declined  the  confideration  of 
what  he  might  have  had  a  perfect  knowledge  of  5, 
but  now  upon  the  fummons  to  a  Tryal,  he  chiefly 
apprehends  the  fads  ofwhich  he  retains  no  diftindt 
knowledge.  This  Fear  is  Itill  increafed  by  the  re- 
flection, that  even  the  moil  wary  liver  cannot  be 
clear  of  Guilt  ♦,  and  that  a  Man's  moft  commenda- 
ble Adions  will  not  bear  an  extreme  and  rigorous 
enquiry,  butftand  in  need  of  pity  and  gracious  al- 
lowances. For  who  can  tell  how  oft  he  offendeth^  how 
many  tjiings  are  done  every  hour  which  ought  not, 
and  how  many  omitted  which  ought  to  have  been 
done  ?  And  both  thefe  Articles  will  be  brought  to 
Account  ^  not  only  the  commijiion  of  Evil,  but 
the  negled  and  falling  off  from  Good.  And  in- 
deed it  is  a  great  Mifemployment  and  Lofs,  when 
we  neither  do  nor  think  upon  things  that  are  pro- 
fitable and  good,  but  let  our  hearts  loofe  after, 
trifles  and  impertinencieg,  that  cannot  turn  to  any* 
benefite  And  yet  let  us  be  never  fo  fenfible  of  the 
"  ~^      -  A  a  3  fault 


364  MEDITATIONS, 


fault  and  folly  of  doing  ro,it  is  no  very  eafy  mat- 
ter to  avoid  it :   For  our  hearts  are  apt  to  fly  out, 
greedy  of  variety  and  diverfion,  and  ever  hanker- 
ing af':er  loofe  and  worldly  imaginations  ^  which 
tho'  they  ma}?"  not  ftriftly  and  in  themfelves  be  un- 
lawful, yet  have  a  mighty  tendency  to  fuch  as  are ; 
for  it  requires  great  conduct  to  manage  even  the 
moft  ferious  affairs  of  the  prefent  life,  without  be- 
ing betrayed  into  fin  by  them.     No  wonder  then, 
that  none  of  us  can  make  a  true  Judgment,  or 
arrive  at  a  perfect  underftanding  of  himfelf,  but 
in  the  vaft  variety  of  bufinefs  and  accidents,  and 
projects  and  perplexed  thoughts,  remain  in  great 
meafare  a  ftranger  to  himfelf,  and  lye  under  mife- 
lies  which  even  himfelf  does  not  feel.     And  this 
confufion  muft  needs  increafe  Mens  fears  when 
death  approaches,  and  hurries  them  on  to  Judg- 
ment.    For  tho'  one  be  never  fo  cautious  not  to 
fail  in  the  recolledion  of  thofe  things  he  knows, 
yet  who  Ihall  fecure  him  from  very  jufl:  and  dread- 
tul  apprehenfions  arifing  from  the  numberlefs 
faults  he  does  not  know  ? 


CHAP.    IIL 

R.fieShns  upon  the  excellent  Nature^  and  Pri- 
vdedges  of  the  Soul, 

WHat,  my  Soul,  what  haft  thou  to  do  with 
the  flefh  ?  Thou,  who  art  adorned  with 
the  likenefs  of  thy  Mafter,  enriched  with  his  holi- 
nefs  and  immortality  ?  What  haft  thou  to  do  with 
that  flefh  which  expofes  thee  to  fo  much  fuffering 
and  mifery  >  For  from  this  fiefli  it  is,  that  the  fin 
never  adually  committed  by  thee  is  laid  to  thy 
charge  •  that  the  right ecufnefs  of  thy  own  doing 
is  no  better  than  filthy  Rags,  and  that  thou  art 

reduced 


MEDITATIONS.  365 

reduced  folow,  as  to  be  efteemed  little  better  than 
Vanity  and  Nothing.  The  fiefh,  with  which  thou 
maintaineft  fo  ftrid  a  friendfhip,  is  in  it  felf  no 
better  than  froth  and  bubble,  cloathed  with  a  gay, 
but  frail  and  decayed  beauty  ^  and  time  will 
fhortly  come,  when  all  its  boafted  charms  fhall 
link  into  a  rotten  Carcafs,  and  be  only  food  for 
worms.  For,  after  all  thy  care  to  drefs  and  fet  it 
off,  thou  canlt  not  change  its  nature,  nor  make  it 
ceafe  to  be  Flefh.  Confider  a  little  thofe  conflant 
evacuations,  the  difcharges  of  thy  mouth,  and 
nofe,  and  other  paflages,  without  which  the  body 
cannot  fubfift  ^  and  ask  thy  felf  how  much  this 
differs  from  a  Common-Shore.  But  there  is  a 
much  more  melancholly  -conliderationyet  behind, 
for,  if  thou  wouldeft  fit  down  and  undertake  to 
compute,  how  this  flelh  is  loaded  with  guilt,  and 
frailty,  intangled  with  vicious  habits,  urged  and 
inflamed  with  unlawful  defires,  overborn  with  un- 
ruly paiiions,  deluded  with  temptations  and  de- 
ceits, prone  to  evil  perpetually  •,  thus  it  will  ap- 
pear full  of  all  manner  of  mifchief  and  reproach. 
This  is  the  thing  that  renders  ever^j  Man  living  al-  Pfi^ni  3p. 
together  vanity  •,  for  here  the  fnares  of  Concupi-  ^* 
fcence  are  laid,  which  captivate  the  mind,  and 
draw  it  off  to  the  love  of  Yanitj^,  and  the  com- 
miffion  of  Iniquity. 

Think  then,  O  Man,  for  it  concerns  thee  high- 
ly :  Think  what  thou  wert  before  thy  birth,what 
thou  art  from  the  time  of  thy  coming  •  into  this 
"World,    to  the  time  of  thy  going  out  of  it,  and 
what  thou  fhalt  be  after  this  Life  is  at  an  end.  A 
time  there  hath  been  when  thou  wert  not  at  all  •, 
and  when  thou  didfl  begin  to  be,  it  was  in  fach 
a  manner  as  modefty  will  not  bear  a  particular  de- 
fcription  of.  The  ornaments  and  advantages  with 
which  thou  appeareftin  the  World,  make  thee  for- 
get the  meannefs  of  thy  Original,  and  not  only 
^hat  thou  once  wert,  but  what  thou  art  atprefent. 

A  a  ^  For 


^.6G  MEDITATIONS. 


For  indeed  this  gaudy  Creature  is  no  better  than  a 
bundle  of  Corruption,  and  food  for  Infeds :  Firft, 
Blood,  then  Man,  afterwards  Worms  and  no  Man. 
What  poor  Pretence  hath  fuch  a  Creature  as  this, 
to  pleafe  or  boa^^  himfelf  :  How  abfurd  is  it  for 
Duft  and  Afhes  to  be  proud,  which  was  conceived 
in  Sin,  born  to  Mifery,  lives  in  Pain,  and  dyes 
with  Agony  and  Terror-,  nav,  knows  there  is  no 
Remedy,  but  dye  he  mufl :  To  what  purpofe  is  it, 
that  thou  art  at  fo  much  Coil  and  Pains  to  feed 
and  to  adorn  that,  which  in  a  few  Diys  hence  will 
be  a  Nuifance  to  its  beft  Friends,  and  when  dif- 
pofed  of  in  the  Grave,  Ihall  turn  to  putrefadtion, 
and  be  it  felfa  Feaft  for  Worms  >     How  much 
more  wifel3r  were  thy  Hours  and  thy  Purfe  em- 
ployed in  adorning  thy  Soul  wiih  good  Works, 
and  rendriiig  this  agreeable  in  the  Sight  of  God, 
and  his  holy  Angels,  before  whom  it  mult  one 
Day  be  prefent. 

What  a  Folly,  what  an  Indignity  is  it,  to  de- 
fpife  thy  Soul,  as  if  it  were  nothing  worth,  and 
give  thy  Flefh  the  preference  in  thy  Care  aiid 
Lfteem  ?  To  make  the  Miftrefs  ferve,and  put  the 
Government  into  the  Maid's  hand  is  highly  unjuft 
and  abfurd.  God,  it  is  plain,  took  other  meafures  ^ 
He  did  not  think  fit  to  ^ay  down  his  Life  for  all 
the  things  of  this  World,  tho'  he  grudged  it  not  for 
the  Soul  of  Man.  So  that  the  Soul  is  mianifeftly 
of  highiCr  value  than  all  this  World,  fince  it  could 
not  be  redeemed  at  a  lower  Price,  than  the  Blood 
of  Chrift  himfelf  ?  What  then  wilt  thou,  vain 
Man,  give  in  exchange  for  it,  who  art  fo  lavifh, 
fo  inconfiderate,  to  fquander  it  away  for  no  com- 
penfarion  at  all  ?  And  yet  u  as  it  not  this  that  the 
Son  cf  God,  who  lay  in  the  bofome  of  the  Father, 
came  down  from  his  throne  in  Heaven,  to  refcue, 
out  cf  the  power  and  ufurpation  of  the  Devil  >  Was 
it  not  this,  that  when  he  faw  tiedajtd  hoiindwith  the 
chahis  ofherfnsy^nd  delivered  up  like  a  guiltyMal^- 

fact'or 


MEDITATIONS.  :?67 

fador  irithe  hands  of  tormentors,  to  xeceivefe7Jte7ice 
of  eternal  death,he  tenderly  wept  over  her  and  for 
her,  when  fo  infenlible  of  her  own  Mifery,  that 
Ihe  fhed  not  one  tear  for  herfeli  >  Kor  did  his 
marvellous  compaiTion  content  it  felf  with  tears  on- 
ly, but  he  fhed  his  very  Blood,  and  would  not  de- 
cline an  ignominious  and  moft  bitter  death  for  her 
redemption.  Confider  this,  Man,  and  be  fenfible 
how  noble  a  Soul  thou  haft,  how  mortal  thofe 
"Wounds  were,  which  nothing  lefs  could  heal,  than 
the  Wounds  of  thy  Lord  and  Saviour  Jefus  Chrift. 
For  had  not  thofe  SicknefTes  been  unto  death,  nay, 
unto  death  eternal,  the  Son  of  God  had  never  dyed 
for  thy  Cure.  Do  not  therefore  think  any  fuifering 
of  thy  Soul  a  Matter  unworthy  thy  moft  ferious 
regard,  when  thou  feeft  fo  m.uch  tendernefs  al- 
ready expreffed  for  it,  by  a  Majefty  fo  glorious, 
fo  infinitely  above  thee.  Thy  God  ftied  tears  of 
Compailion  for  thee,  do  not  think  much  to  walh 
thy  couch  day  and  night  with  the  tears  of  repen- 
,  ance  and  holy  contrition.  He  pour'd  out  his 
-" Blood  on  the  Crofs  for  thy  fake,  do  thou  fpend 
thine,  in  daily  crucifixion  of  thy  own  FleJ/j  with 
its  affeEtions  and  liifis.  Thou  may'ft  not  perhaps  be 
called  upon  to  facrifice  thy  Life  at  once  for  his 
fake  ^  but  this  that  I  advife,  is  real  Martyrdom  ^ 
and  what  is  wanting  in  the  acutenefs  and  horror, 
may  be  made  up  by  the  length  of  its  pains.  Let 
thy  bufinefs  therefore  be  to  fatisfy  the  ufes  and 
ends  of  the  Spirit^  and  not  to  gratifie  the  covet* 
ings  of  the  Fiefti.  For  this  Spirit  fliall  be  glorious 
at  the  return  to  God,  provided  due  endeavours  be 
applied  for  its  removal  out  of  the  body,  pure  of 
-§in,  and  purged  by  repentance,  from  the  polluti- 
ons, which  it  contraded  by  converfing  inthemidft 
of  a  naughty  and  miferable  World. 

If  you  reply,  that  it  is  a  hard  faying,  you  can-  ' 
not  defpife  the  W^orld,  nor  hate  your  own  Flefti  : 
Tell  me,  I  befeech  you,  what  is  become  of  all  thofe 

t  ^^       Lovers 


568  MEDITATIONS. 

Lovers  of  the  World,  who  had  fiich  Plenty,  and 
were  fb  fond  of  its  enjoyments,  but  a  few  Years 
ago.  What  is  there  of  them  now  remaining,  but 
duft  and  worms,,  and  the  remembrance  of  their 
folly  ?  Remember  what  they  were,  and  think 
what  they  now  are.  They  were  Men,  fuch  as 
You.  They  eat  and  drank  liberally,  were  profufe 
in  Mirth,  and  Nights  and  Days  were  fpent  in 
laughter  and  luxury  •,  at  laft,  when  they  thought 
of  nothing  lefs,  in  a  moment  they  were  gone  and 
funk  into  Hell :  Their  flefli  was  made  a  prey  to 
worms,  their  Souls  new  fewel  to  eternal  flames  •, 
And  thus  fhall  each  continue,  till  both  are  brought 
together  again  •,  and,  by  a  moft  unhappy  Union, 
partake  for  ever  in  the  punilhment,  as  they  before 
had  been  partners  in  the  Crimes  that  deferved  it. 
What  fruit  have  thefe  Men  now  of  their  vain-glo- 
ries, their  traniitory  joy s,their  worldly  power  and 
grandeur,their  fenfualpleafures,their  miftaken  and 
deceitful  riches,their  great  families,and  all  the  lin- 
ful  liberties  they  fo  obftinately  indulged  ?Where, 
Wretches,  where  are  now  your  jefts  and  jollities, 
your  haughty  contempt  of  Sobriety  and  Religion, 
and  every  thing  that  is  ferious,  your  gayety,  and 
arrogance,  and  pride  ?  How  great  is  the  difpro- 
portion  between  fo  fhort  a  mirth,  and  fo  durable  a 
for  row,  between  fo  imperfecland  unfincere  a  plea- 
fure,  and  fo  exquifitcmifery  and  pain  ?  How  dif- 
mal  the  fall,  from  that  which  you  vainly  thought 
your  happinefs,  into  torments  infupportable,  and 
mine  irreparable  ?  I  befeech  thee,now  and  then,my 
Reader,  whoever  thou  art,  reprefent  to  thy  felf, 
the  horrors  of  this  miferable  change,  which  hath 
already  been  the  fate  of  ro  many  ^  and  reflect 
withal,  that  nothing  hath  happened  to  any  one 
of  thefe,  which  may  not  happen  equally  to  thee. 
Thou  too  art  Man  like  them  :  Thy  behaviour  in- 
deed may,  but  thy  nature  can  make  no  difference. 
For  thou  art  made  of  the  fame  Earth,  liveft  upon 


MEDITATIONS.  ^69 


the  fame  produdls  of  it, and  fiiall  return  to  the  fame 
duftof  it  with  them  •,  nay,  thou  muft  return  thi^ 
ther  when  that  day  overtakes  thee,which  fuddenly 
will,  and  may  perhaps  be  this  very  day.  For,  that 
thou  {halt  die,  is  certain  beyond  all  difpute,  but 
where,  and  how,  and  when,  the  moft  uncertain 
thing  that  can  be.     Since  therefore  Death  awaits 
thee  every  where,  it  will  be  Wifdom  in  thee  to  be 
conftantly  upon  thy  guard,  and  to  exped:  it  every 
where  too.  If  thou  follow  the  fleih,  thou  flialt  be 
puniflied  in  the  flefh.  If  the  delights  of  the  Body 
be  thy  aim,  the  torments  of  the  Body  Ihall  be  the 
end  of  them.     If  thou  afFed  fine  cloaths,  and  coft- 
ly  furniture,  the  moth  Ihall  be  thy  foot-cloath,and 
worms  thy  covering.      For  the  Juftice  of  God,  as 
it  cannot  but  judge  every  Man  according  to  his 
defcrts,fo  it  will  fuit  Alens  punilhments  to  the 
inordinacy  of  their  defires.  And  he  that  loves  the 
world  better  than  God,  bufinefs  and  pleafare  more 
than  Religion,  high  feeding  more  than  modera- 
tion and  abfl:inence,lafcivioufnefs  and  luxury  more 
than  chaftity  and  purity  ^  this  Man  follows  the 
Devil,  and  muft  look  to  eat  the  bitter  fruit  of  his 
own  choice,  by  being  fentenced  to  keep  him  com- 
pany in  everlafting  punifhment* 

But  Oh  the  heart-breaking,  the  grief  and  a^ 
mazement,  the  bowlings  and  doleful  lamentati- 
ons of  that  difmal  day,  when  the  wicked  fliall  be 
fevered  from  the  converfation  of  the  Saints,  and 
for  ever  banifhed  the  iight  and  prefence  of  God  ^ 
when  they  fliall  be  abandoned  to  the  fury  of  De- 
vils, and  fruitlefs  tears  and  groans,  and  caft  into 
the  lake  that  flows  in  flrreams  of  fire  for  ever  and 
ever  !      Such  is  the  defperate  condition  of  the 
damned,  fhut  out  irrevocably  from  the  regions  of 
blifs,  to  be  tormented  without  mercy  in  hell  ^ 
doomed  never  to  fee  the  light,  never  to  gain  one 
minutes  eafeor  refpite,  but  to  endure  thouiandsof 
thoufands  of  ages  3  at  the  hands  of  tormentors  who 

fhall 


370  MEDITATIONS. 

Ihall  never  be  weary,  and  in  a  State  where  th^ 
tormented  fhall  never  expire  with  their  Pains.  Foi" 
the  Fire  fo  burns,  as  never  entirely  to  confume  s 
and  theTor tares  are  fo  inflidted  as  to  be  ever  new, 
ever  increafed.  Nor  will  thefe  be  dealt  promifcu- 
oufly  to  all,  but  the  Quality  of  the  Panifhment 
(wt  have  Re^fon  to  think  )  will  be  determined 
by  the  Nature  of  each  Perfon\s  Crimes  •,  and 
they  whofe  Vices  are  of  a  fort,  will  find  the  fame 
Agreement  in  their  Sufferings.  Weeping  and 
Wailing,  Howlings  and  Groans,  Lamentations  and 
Gnafhings,are  the  only  Sounds  heard  in  thofe  dif- 
mal  Prifons :  Worms,  and  Ghofts,  deformed  and 
monftrous  Spe6lacles  are  all  the  Objeds  prefented 
to  their  Eyes  :  Their  Bodies  fhall  burn  in  the 
Fire,  their  Souls  be  gnawed  with  the  never-dying 
Worm  of  an  upbraiding  Confcience.  Their  Pains 
intolerable,  their  Fears  unconceivably  amazing, 
the  Stench  fuftocating  beyond  comparifon,  their 
Soul  and  body  ever  dying,  without  the  leaft 
Glimpfe  of  Hope,  or  PolTibility  of  Pardon  and 
Mercy.  Thus  muft  the  Soul  be  dealt  with  in  the 
other  World,capable  of  no  middle  State,  but  either 
tormented  everlaftingly  inHell  forSin  unremitted, 
or  inexpreffibly  happy  in  Heaven  for  good  Works 
gracioufly  accepted.  And  need  we  then  to  be  per- 
fuaded  which  of  thefe  two  we  ought  to  choofe, 
whether  to  be  continually  tormented  with  Devils, 
or  to  be  as  continually  in  felicity  with  the  Saints  >^ 
Good  and  Evil,  Life  and  Death  are  fet  before  iis^  and 
Eccks^j'y.jphetherwe  had  rather,  that  fi all  be  given  us.  The 
Punifhment  indeed  fhall  infinitely  exceed  all  the 
Defcriptions,  that  have  been  here,  or  can  be  gi- 
ven of  them  :  yet  thefe  Defcriptions  fure  are  full 
of  Terrour  enough,  to  fright  us  into  better  Man- 
ners. But  if  thefe  Terrours  of  the  Lord  fail  to 
perfuade,  let  us  try  if  the  Mercies  and  Rewards 
will  invite  us  to  Amendment. 

CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS,  gyi 

CHAR    IV. 

The  Rewards  of  goo  J  Men  in  the  next  Life. 

T  may  fuffice  to  fay  upon  this  cccafion,that  good 
Men  fhall  be  recumpenced  for  their  Labours 
by  feeing  God,  by  living  with  God,  by  living  of 
God,  being  in  Him,  who  fhall  be  all  in  all,  and 
pofTeiTing  Him  who  is  the  fupream  Good.  For 
where  the  fupream  Good  is,  there  of  neceffity 
muft  be  the  moft  perfe6l  Happinefs,the  mojFt  exqui- 
site joy,  true  liberty,  unbounded  charity,  and  eter- 
nal fecurity,  fulnefs  of  knowledge,  perfection  of 
beauty,and  all  manner  of  Blefiednefs.  There  fhall 
be  Peace  and  Piety,  Joy  andSweetnefs,  Lifeever- 
lailing.  Glory  and  Praife,  Reft  and  Concord.  So 
bleffed  fhall  every  Man  be  with  God,  who  leaves 
thisWorld  with  a  quiet  and  clear  Confcience,and  to 
whom  the  Lord  will  7iot  ijnpite  Jin.  He  fhall  fee  God  Pfal  32. 
to  the  fatisfying  his  Delire,he  fhall  enjoy  him  to  2- 
the  confummating  of  his  Pleafure  :  He  fhall  fhine 
in  Truth,  rejoyce  in  Goodnefs,flourifh  in  a  never- 
decaying  Eternity.  Nor  fhall  his  Duration  be 
more  enlarged,  than  his  Capacity  of  Knowledge 
and  Felicity.  He  fhall  be  free  of  that  City  above 
of  which  the  Angels  are  Denizens,  the  Father  the 
Temple,  the  Son  the  Light,  the  Holy  Spirit  the 
Cement  of  inviolable  Love.  O  happy  Manfion  ! 
O  fruitful  peaceful  Country ,whofe  Territories  are 
large  enough  for  all  thy  Inhabitants !  whofe  people 
dwell  fecurely,without  Strife  or  Want !  How  ^Zon-Pfal.87, 3 
ovs  things  arefpoken  ofthce^  thon  city  of  God  !  In  thee 
is  nothing  heard  but  the  voice  of  praife  and  thankC- 
giving,  the  fhouts  and  exultations  of  them  that  re- 
joyce in  God,  whofe  fight  is  charming,  whofe 
words  are  fweet  beyond  exprefTion.  Thy  Pre- 
fcnce,  OLord  is  delightful  ^  the  poffelUon  of  Thee 

is 


972  M  E  D  I  T  A  T  I  O  N  S» 


is  entire  fatisfaction.  Thou,  Thou  alone,  art 
pleafant,  thou  art  more  than  a  fufficient  Reward  5 
thehigheft  merit,  the  fharpeftfufFerings,  are  over- 
paid in  thee.  Beyond  thee  there  remains  no  new 
object  for  our  wilhes  ^  for  all  that  we  can  polTibly 
propofe  to  our  felves,  is  found  in  thee  alone.  The 
delires  of  beholding  and  poiTeiTrng  thee  will  be 
ever  frefh  and  growing,  and  the  delights  of  thefe 
ever  new  and  entertaining.  In  thee  our  under- 
ftandings  will  be  enlightened,  in  thee  our  aftedti* 
ons  ever  purified,  foas  to  know  and  love  the  truth 
continually  more  and  more.  And  this  is  the  ut- 
moft  perfection  mankind  are  capable  of,  to  know, 
and  entirely  to  love  their  Creator. 

What  ftrange  perverfenefs !  What  madnefs  and 
dotage  then  is  this  we  labour  under,  to  thirft  after 
the  gall  and  wormwood  of  fin,  to  court  the  Storms 
and  Shipwreck  of  worldly  Cares,  to  be  content 
with  the  difafters  of  a  perifhing  life,  to  fubmit 
tamely  to  the  tyranny  of  an  Enemy  that  ufurps 
a  Dominion  over  us  ♦,  and  not  rather  to  aim  at 
the  blifs  of  Saints,  the  fociety  of  Angels,  the 
magnificent  joys  above,  and  the  pleafures  of  a  de- 
vout and  contemplative  life,  that  fo  we  may  enter 
into  the  joy  of  our  Lord,  and  be  made  partakers 
of  the  riches  of  his  exceeding  goodnefs  ?  There 
we  {hall  tafte  how  gracious  the  Lord  is,  fee  the 
beauties  of  his  holinefs,  the  luftre  of  his  Saints,and 
the  glories  of  his  Palace  and  Throne  :  There  we 
fhall  know  the  power  of  the  Father,  the  wifdom 
of  the  Son,  the  moft  extenfive  love  of  the  Holy 
Ghoft  ^  and  get  acquainted  with  that  ever  blefled 
and  mioft  myfterious  Trinity.  Now  we  fee  bodies 
with  the  eyes  ofour  body  •,  we  form  Ideas  of  bodies 
by  the  powers  of  the  Soul  ^  but  then  we  fhall  fee 
God  himfelf  with  a  clear  intuitive  Knowledge. 
O  the  blefTednefs  perpetually  flowing  fiom  that 
Vifion,  vv^hich  fees  God  in  himfelf,  lees  Him  in 
t^s,  and  Us  in  him  ^  which  furnilhes  us  with  the 

utmoft 


MEDITATIONS.  573 


utmoft  we  can  wilh,  and  leaves  no  new  Objed:sfor 
our  defires  -^  which  ftiews  us  all  we  can  fee,  and 
inflames  us  with  the  love  of  all  we  fee,  and  renders 
us  perfectly  happy  in  that  love.     So  (hall  we  be 
blefled  in  the  pleafures  of  Love,  bleffed  in  the  de- 
lights of  Contemplation.  Thisfhallbe  thefummof 
our  Contemplation,  That  the  fumm  of  our  Hap- 
pinefs.     For  the  Divine  Nature  fhall  then  be  un-^ 
derftoodby  us  in  its  abftraded  Effence  and  bright- 
eft  Perfe(9:ions  *,  The  fecrets  and  myfteries  ofthe 
Trinity,  and  the  harmony  of  Providence,  and  the 
juftice  of  hisjudgments,andall  the  wondrous  works 
of  God,  fhall  lye  fair  and  open  to  our  view.     The 
delights  refulting  from  them,  fhall  fill  andfatisfy 
ourlargeft  thirft  after  knowledge,  and  fo  confum- 
mate  the  happinefs  of  the  rational  Soul.    And  as 
Truth  Ihall  Ihine,  fo  Charitjr  fhall  burn  bright  5 
one  Voice,  one  Will,  one  Concert  of  Praife  :  The 
whole  AlTembly  of  Saints  united  to  each  other  5 
Body  and  Soul  fhall  no  more  war  and  hold  perpe- 
tual Conflicts  •,  nor  then,  ashere^obflrud,  but  pro- 
mote each  other's  Happinefs,  and  maintain  good 
correfpondence,  and  the  human  Nature  fhall  ftiine 
in  glory,  as  the  Sun  in  its  ftrength.     The  joy,  the 
difcourfe,  the  entertainment  of  Angels  and  Men 
fhall  then  be  the  fame.  Their  love  fhall  riever  grow 
cold,  their  hopes  and  expedations  fhall  never  Ian- 
gaifh  by  delays  ♦,  for  in  God  all  good  fhall  be  pre- 
sent with  them,  and  they  fhall  all  partake  in  com- 
mon of  the  fame  wifdom,  and  power,  and  righte- 
oufnefs,  and  peace.     No  difference  of  language 
fhall  there  be  heard,  but  all  things  uniform,  and 
hearts  unanimous  •,  The  fame  difpofitions  and  the 
fame  aifedlions :   In  the  overflowing  River  of  this 
Pleafure,  there  will  be  gratification  to  the  full,  the 
perfection  of  blifs,  and  glory,  and  gladnefs. 

But  who  is  fufficient,  who  fhall  be  meet  to  par- 
take of  thefe  things  >  Even  every  true  penitent, 
€Yen  every  faithful  friend,  even  every  obedient 

i  fer- 


974  MEDITATIONS. 


fervant.    The  true  Penitent  grieves  and  mourns 
for  his  paft  Mifcarriages,  and  gives  ^11  Diligence 
to  avoid  the  like  for  the  time  to  come.    For  this  is 
Repentance  indeed,  to  be  continually  under  con- 
cern for  the  fins  we  have  committed  heretofore, 
and  fo  to  bewail  what  hath  been  done,  as  never 
more  to  do  what  we  bewail.   And  Reafon  tells  us. 
That  he  who  perfifts  in  Pra6tices,  which  he  profef- 
fes  to  be  forry  for  having  ever  been  engaged  in, 
does  not  repent,  but  mock  God,  and  delude  his 
own  Soul.  If  then  thou  wouldfi:  approve  thy  fince- 
rity  in  this  Matter,  leave  ofr  thy  lins  •  for  vain  is 
that  Repentance  which  fubfequent  Crimes  of  the 
fame  Nature  ftain.     Every  obedient  Servant  re- 
ligns  his  own  Inclinations  and  Averfions  to  his 
Matter's  Plefure,  Co  as  to  be  able  to  profefs  with 
the  Pfalmift,  My  heart  is  ready,  0  God,  my  heart  is 
7'eadyjam  content  atid delight  to  do  thy  w'lll^O  my  God  •, 
yea,  thy  law  is  within  ?ny  heart.    I  delight  to  dedicate 
my  time  to  thee,to  converfe  with  thee  in  my  pray- 
er, to  do  good  to  my  Neighbours,  and  perform  all 
Offices  of  Charii  37-  for  thy  fake  •,  to  keep  a  ftridt 
guard  over  my  felf,  and  to  feek  Reft  for  my  Soul 
in  the  contemplation  of  heavenly  things.  A  faith- 
ful friend  is  ferviceable  and  obliging  to  all,  and 
troublefome  to  none.  He  is  ferviceable  to  all.  be- 
caufe  devout  towards  God,  kind  to  his  Brethren, 
refer ved  and  moderate  in  his  Enjoyments  ^  a  Ser- 
vant to  his  Lord,  a  Companion  to  his  Equal,  a 
Mafler  of  the  World.   The  things  above  him  mi- 
nifter  to  his  Delight  •,  thofe  upon  the  level  with 
him,  to  his  Comfort  and  Afliftance  •,  thofe  below 
him  to  his  Ufe  and  Service.     He  is  troublefome  to 
no  body,becaufe  ufingand  efteeming  all  things  ac- 
cording to  their  proper    Spheres  and  Capacities  ^ 
purfuing  and  reaching  to  thofe  thai  are  more  excel- 
lent,and  retaining  an  abfolute  Maftcryover  thofe 
that  are  beneath  him.  To  the  iormer  he  gives  up 
himfelf  in  pofleilion,  but  keeps  undifturbed  pof- 

feiiion 


MEDITATIONS.  ^^^ 


feilion  of  the  latter  •,  and  thus  employs  himfelf  in 
thofe  two  moft  important,  moft  necefTary  Affairs, 
the  Contemplation  of  God,  and  the  Prefervation 
of  his  own  Soul. 

Let  this  then  be  thy  firft  Care,  ftridtly  to  watch 
and  guard  thy  felf  from  Sin  and  Temptation  -but 
know  withal,  that  thy  own  Strength  is  not  fuffici- 
ent  for  this  great  Work  \  and  therefore  do  not 
forget  moft  humbly  and  earneftly  to  implore  the 
divine  Mercy  and  Protection  :  Let  thy  Saviour 
Jefus  Chrift  be  ever  in  thy  Thoughts  and  Affedi- 
ons,  and  wear  Him  as  a  Signet  upon  thy  Heart. 
For  when  the  Door  is  fealed  and  kept  hj  Him, 
all  thy  Faculties  will  be  under  his  Governance  • 
no  Thought  can  go  in  or  out,  or  lodge  there,  but 
by  his  Permiihon  :  The  Family  of  Heaven  and 
Earth  will  bear  thee  company  ^  thoufands  of  An- 
gels Vvall  pitch  their  Tents  about  thee,  and  guard 
the  Paffes  of  thy  outward  Senfes,  that  no  unclean 
thing  enter  there.  And  the  great  Adverfary  of 
Souls,  how  mighty  and  formidable  foever  in  him- 
felf, will  not  be  able  to  break  thro'  thefe  bright 
Armies,  nor  dare  to  miake  his  Attacks  which  he 
forefees  will  prove  unfuccefsful.  So  great  an  awe 
will  the  Dread  of  this  Divine  Keeper,  and  the 
bright  Hoft  of  Angels  that  attend  him,  ftrike  ^  fo 
fure  a  Defence  will  thefe  heavenly  Succours  be, 
againft  that  otherv/ife  undaunted,  that  otherwife 
invincible  Enemy. 


C  H  A  P.    V. 

Of  the  Duty  of  Self-Examhation. 

Sound  thy  Heart  to  the  bottom,  and  try  it  nice- 
ly, to  be  throughly  fatisfied  of  thy  Sincerity. 
Let  no  Day  pafs  without  an  Account  taken  of  thy 
■    '^  B  b  life, 


376  MEDITATIONS. 

life^and  be  fure  to  obferve  very  diligently,  what 
Ground  you  get  or  lofe  •  what  alteration  appears 
in  your  Temper,  Behaviour,  Affedtions,  Deiires  ^ 
what  reft^mhlance  or  degeneracy  from  God  -,  hov/ 
near  approaches  you  make,  or  to  what  diilance 
you  are  cafi:  ♦,  a  diftance  and  approach  to  be  mea- 
fured  not  by  extenlion  and  fpace,  but  by  alliens 
and  difpofitions.    Above  all  other  Subjeds,  ftudy 
your  own  felf  ^  for  he  who  is  throi'ghly  acquaint- 
ed with  himfelf,  hath  attained  to  a  more  valuable 
fort  of  Learning,  laid  out  his  Pains  and  Time  to 
mxUch  better  purpofe,  than  if  the  courfe  and  pofi- 
tion  of  the  Stars,  the  virtues  of  Plants,    the  diffe- 
rent complexions  of  Men,  the  nature  of  all  forts 
of  Animals-,  inlhort,  than  if  the  comprehenfion  of 
eeleftial  and  terreftial  bodies,  and  their  qualities, 
had  imployed  his  Thoughts.    For  no  Knowledge 
which  terminates  in  curiofity  and  fpeculation,  is 
comparable  to  that  which  is  of  ufe  ♦,  and  of  all 
ufeful  Knowledge,  that  is  moft  fo,  which  confifts 
in  the  due  care  and  juft  notions  of  ourfelves.  This 
Study  is  a  Debt  which  every  one  owes  himfelf. 
Let  us  not  then  be  fo  lavilh,  fo  unjuft,  as  not  to 
pay  this  Debt,  by  fpending  fome  part  at  leaft,  if 
we  cannot  all,  or  moft,  of  our  Time  and  Care, 
upon  that  which  hath  the  firft  and  moft  indefeafi- 
ble  Claim  to  it.    Govern  your  Paffions,  manage 
your  Actions  with  Prudence,  and  where  falfe  Steps 
have  been  m^ade,  correal  them  for  the  future.  Let 
nothing  be  allow'd  to  grow  head-ftrong  and  difor- 
derly,  but  bring  all  under  Difcipline.  Set  all  your 
Faults  before  your  ov/n  Eyes,  and  pafs  Sentence 
upon  your  felf  with  the  fame   Severity  that  you 
would  do  upon  any  other,  for  whom  no  partiality 
hath  byafTed  your  judgment.     When  this  is  done, 
ierioufly  lament  3^our  Tranfgreffions  ^  open  your 
guilt  and  grief  before  God  ^  fhew  him  the  troubles 
of  a  wounded  Confcience,  and  the  m.alice  of  them 
^hat  lye  in  vrait  for  your  Soul.    And  when  you 

mortify 


M  E  D  I  T  A  r  1  O  N  S.  :^77 

mortify  your  felf  and  melt  away  in  tears  of  con- 
trition before  him  •  extend  your  Charity  to  your 
fellow-Chriftians,  and  let  Me  in  return  for  this 
good  Advice,  be  particularly  remembred  in  your 
Prayers. 


CHAP.    YU 

Of  the  Attention  reqiiijite  in  publickDevotmt. 

WHen  thou  entreft  the  Church  to  joyn  iil 
the  publick  Worlhip,  be  fure  to  leave  all 
the  hurry  of  wandring  and  tumultuous  Thoughts 
behind  thee,  abandon  bufinefs  and  care  of  all  forts, 
that  thou  may 'ft  be  diftradtedby  no  intruding  ob- 
jed:,  but  fix  thy  Mind  entirely  upon  God.  For 
how  is  it  poffiblethat  a  Man  ftiould  converfe  with 
his  Maker,  who  is  all  iho,  while  fecretly  entertain- 
ing himfelf  with  the  World  ?  Let  then  thy  Medi^ 
tations  be  confined  to  Him,  whofe  obferving 
Eye  is  placed  conftantly  upon  Thee  ^  and  liften 
attentively  when  he  fpealcs  to  Thee,  that  his  ears 
may  likewife  be  open  when  thou  addrefleft  to  Him, 
In  this  cafe  you  will  find  the  feveralParts  of  divine 
Worfhip  mutually  contributing  to  the  improve- 
ment of  each  other.  For  the  Man  that  bears  his 
part  in  the  praifes  and  prayers,with  all  that  thank- 
fulnefs  and  humility,  that  reverence  and  earneft 
Zeal  which  become  fuch  holy  exercifes,  will  find 
himfelf  much  better  difpofed  to  receive  and  profit 
by  thofe  Inftru£tions,Which  the  Portions  of  Scrip-* 
tiire  then  read  are  defigned  to  furnifh  him  with  5 
And  every  Word  that  proceeds  out  of  the  Mouth 
of  God,  will  then  have  its  due  Weight  and  Effica- 
cy upon  the  Hearer.  Perhaps  yoii  may  objedt, 
that  this  is  a  pitch  of  Devotion,  which  I  my  felf^ 
who  enjoyu  it,  have  not  yet  arrived  to  :  but  I  beg 
'  ~  B  b  ^  "  roy 


573  MEDITATIONS. 


my  Reader  to  confider,  that  m}'-  Practice  neither 
is,  nor  ought  to  be  efteemed  the  Rule  of  His.  I 
either  do  it  ^  or  if  I  do  it  not,  I  am  fenfible,  I 
fliould,  I  heartily  wifh  I  could  do  it,  and  am  forry 
and  afhamed  when  I  feel  my  felf  defedive.  But 
let  not  this  hinder  thee,  or  any  other  Perfon  who 
is  indued  with  more  liberal  Meafures  of  Grace, 
from'  inclining  the  merciful  Ears  of  God,  by  the' 
moft  fervent  Devotion  that  Man  is  capable  of. 
Pour  out  thy  Prayers,  and  to  thofe  Prayers  add 
Sighs,  and  Tears,  and  inward  Groanings  i,  all  are 
little  enough  for  thofe  Tranfgreilions,  which  thoU 
proftrateft  thy  felf  before  the  Throne  of  Grace  to 
implore  the  Pardon  of.  And  when  Praife  is  thy 
Theme,  raife  up  thy  Soul,  and  endeavour  to  mag- 
nif}^  God  in  all  his  Works,  by  Pfalms  and  Hymns, 
and  fpiritual  Songs :  O  then  exert  the  utmofb  of  thy 
Strength,  for  thou  canft  never  exalt  his  Goodnefs 
as  it  deferves.  No  Sight  is  more  agreeable  to  the 
Citizens  of  the  heavenly  y^r«yitZ^wz,noTribute  more 
acceptable  to  the  great  King  that  reigns  there, 
than  fuch  a  pious  Zeal.  So  his  own  Mouth 
Pfal  5:0.  pronounced  long  ago  by  his  Prophet,  Whofo  offer eth 
25^  7?ie  tha7iha}jd praife^  he  honoureth  me.  O  how  happy 

wouldft  thou  moft  juftly  think  thy  felf,  could'ft 
thou  but  fee  with  the  Eyes  of  thy  Mind  thofe  fo- 
lemn  Rejoycings  above,  wherein  themyftical  and 
moft  magnificent  Senfe  of  the  Pfalmift's  Defcripti- 
Pfai.  68,  on,  theFr'inces  go  before^  the  hijlnnnents follow  after ^ 
^^'  hi  the  nudji  are  the  da7Jifthplayhig  with  their  thnhf'els^ 

Then  wouldft  thou  plainly  difcover,  and  be  abun- 
dantly convinced,  though  now  there  is  little  ap- 
pearance of  thy  believing  it,  that  there  are  Num- 
bers of  thofe  bright  Spirits,  which  do  with  won^ 
drous  Watchfulnefs  and  Satisfadion,  rejoice  with 
the  Congregations  of  good  Chriftians  in  their 
iPraifes  •.  and  obferve  their  Behaviour  and  their 
Prayers  t,  and  are  prefent  with  their  pious  Medita- 
tions ^  and  keep  guard  about  them  in  their  Sleep 
>.     '        _  mi 


M  E  D  1  T  A  T  I  ON  S.  379    ^ 


and  Solitude  •  and  diredl  and  preferve  the  Gover- 
nours  of  our  Church,  in  the  Exercife  of  their  fpiri- 
tual  Authority  and  Fundion.     For  this  is  fure, 
that  the  heavenly  Powers  have  a  very  tender  Re- 
gard for  the  Fellow-Citizens  upon  Earth,  and  be- 
ing all  mhnping  Spirits  feitt  out  to  viivijler  for  them  hj^.  j^  ,^ 
who  f Jail  be  heirs  of  fdvation  •,  we  have  no  Caufe  to 
doubt,  that  they  are  very  follicitoufly  concerned 
for  the  Good  of  their  Charge  •,  that  they  conceive 
a  fenfible  Joy  at  it  •,  that  they  ftrengdien^inftrud, 
protect,  and  take  all  the  care  they  can  of  them, 
in  order  to  obtaining  it.    In  doing  fo  indeed,  they 
ftudy  to  promote  not  our  Happinefs  only,  but 
their  own  :  For  they  long  earneftly  for  our  fafe 
arrival  in  thofe  blifsful  Regions,  as  hoping  to  fee 
the  Breaches  made  upon  their  glorious  Society  re- 
paired, and  the  Numbers  of  their  fallen  Brethren 
recruited,  by  the  SucceiTion  of  redeemed  Souls  into 
their  Place.     They  make  diligent  enquiry,    and 
delight  to  hear  of  good  Men  ^  They  fly  uponDif- 
patches  between  God  and  Us  •,   and  are  the  Mef- 
fengers  and  Inftruments,  by  which  our  Requefts 
and  holy  Sighs  are  carried  up  to  God,  and  the 
Graces-and  Bleiilngs  he  gives  in  return  to  thofe 
Prayers  and  Complaints,  are  conveyed  down  to 
Us.     And  They,  who  now  are  appointed  our 
Minifters  and  MefTengers,  and  do  with  fo  much 
Diligence  and  Alacrity,  difcharge  that  Office,will 
not  dirdain,in  our  exalted  State,tobeour  Brethren 
and  Companions.     We  poured  in  an  Addition  to 
their  joy,  when  we  repented  of  our  Sins  •,  and 
therefore  we  Ihould  think  ourfelves  concern-ed  to 
increafe  yet  more,  and  to  compleat  that  Joy, 
which  they  entertained  at  our  Converfion  •  by  fo 
proceeding  in  Yertue,as  finally  to  attain  everlaft- 
ing  Salvation. 

This  is  our  Duty  and  our  Intereft.  But  miferable 
doft  thou  make  thy  felf,  whoever  thou  art,  wicked  ^  ^^^-  ^t 
Creature,  that  retiirnefi  with  the  Dog  to  thy  Vomit   ^" 

B  b  3  a^  -^ 


?8o  MEDITATIONS- 

gain,  and  with  the  Sow  that  was  waJJjed  to  her  wallow- 
ing  in  the  Mire,  What  favour  canft  thou  exped  in 
the  Day  of  Judgment,  who  haft  thus  difappointed 
all  Heaven  of  a  Joy  fo  greatly  defired,  and  which 
thou  once  hadft  given  fo  promifing  hopes  of?  The 
Angels  triumphed  in  our  ferious  Application  to 
Goodnefs  and  religious  Duties,  as  over  Men 
whom  they  fawpluck'd  back  from  the  very  brink 
of  Hell :  But  how  different  Refentments  ftiall  we 
provoke  in  them,  by  relapfing  into  our  once  ab- 
liorr'd  and  forfaken  abominations,  which  is  in  ef- 
fect to  fall  back  from  the  very  Gate  of  Paradice, 
and  to  link  into  Hell,  after  having,  as  it  were,  al- 
ready one  foot  in  Heaven  ?  For  this  is  the  condi- 
tion of  them,  whofe  Hearts  and  Affedions  are 
placed  above,  tho'  their  Bodies  are  ftill  detained 
below.  Let  us  run  therefore  the  Race  that  is  fet 
before  us,  by  prefling  forward  to  the  Mark  conti- 
nually, not  with  our  Bodies,  but  our  Inclinations 
and  Delires.  And  let  this  Confideration  prevail 
with  us  to  quicken  our  Face,  and  hold  out  to  the 
laft,  that  not  only  the  Angels,  but  the  common 
Maker  and  Father  of  Angels  and  Men,  expeds 
and  longs  to  fee  us  at  the  Goal.  God  the  Father 
longs  for  us  as  his  Children  and  Heirs^that  he  may 
crown,  and  make  us  Rulers  over  all  that  he  hath, 
God  the  Son  experts  us  as  Brethren  and  Joynt- 
Heirs  with  himfelf,  that  he  may  prefent  to  God 
the  Father,the  Fruits  of  his  marvellous  condefcen- 
iion,  in  taking  our  Flefh  upon  him  ^  and  fecure 
the  Purchafe,  for  which  he  paid  down  his  own 
Blood.  God  the  Holy  Ghoft  waits  for  us  ^  for  he 
is  the  very  EfTence  of  Kindnefs  and  Love,  by 
which  good  Men  are  predeftinated  from  all  eter- 
nity, and  He  cannot  doubtlefs  but  be  well  pleafed, 
to  fee  that  gracious  Decree  accompliihed  in  fnch 
Men's  Happinefs.  Since  therefore  the  whole  Court 
of  Heaven  fo  folicitoufly  exped,  fo  eagerly  defire 
our  BleiTednefs,  let  it  liot  be  our  Reproach,  that 

ws 


fl»'^v«n«i*a* 


MEDITATIONS.  581 

we  are  carelefs  and  indifferent  in  fo  weighty  a 
Point,  but  let  us  at  leaft  defire  and  endeavour  our 
ownhappinefs  with  all  the  zeal  and  earneftnefs  we 
are  capable  of.  I  fay,  let  it  not  be  our  reproach 
to  do  otherwife  •,  for  fhould  we  be  admitted  thither, 
it  could  not  but  confound  us  to  refled,  that  we 
were  cold  in  the  purfuit  of  that  ineftimable  Blifs, 
and  how  far  Ihort  of  what  they  ought  to  have 
been  our  Deiires  after  it  were.  But  he  that  makes 
this  the  conftant  Subjed  of  his  Meditations, 
that  prays  without  ceafmg,  and  ftrives  without 
lazinefs  or  intermiilion,  will  go  fecurelj  out  of 
this  World,  and  be  received  in  the  next  with 
Joy  and  Satisfadlion  unfpealcable.  Therefore 
wherever  thou  art,pray  at  leaft  fecretly,  and  with- 
in thy  felf.  If  thou  halt  not  the  convenience  of 
religious  Affemblies,  and  the  Houfe  of  God,  be  not 
concerned  for  want  of  a  proper  Place,  for  every 
good  Man's  Heart  is  the  Temple  of  God,  and  his 
Houfe  of  Prayer.  Be  thou  in  bed,  abroad  in  thy 
fields,at  home  in  thy  clofet,the  place  makes  no  dif- 
ference •,  thy  Prayers  will  confecrate  and  make  it 
an  habitation  of  God's  fpirit  and  gracious  prefence. 
We  have  great  need  of  frequent  Prayer,  and  Ihall 
do  well  to  perform  it  in  the  moft  decent  manner. 
For  the  more  lowly  pofture  our  bodies  are  bowed 
down  in,  the  higher  and  more  reverend  will  our 
thoughts  be.  And  fure  as  there  is  not  any  moment 
in  our  lives,  which  hath  not  been  diftinguifhed 
by  fome  freih  inftance  of  mercy  and  goodnefs,  fo 
it  is  not  fit  there  fhould  be  any  neither,  in  which 
we  lliould  not  have  God  in  remembrance.  But  you 
v/ill  fay.  Perhaps  I  fay  my  Prayers  every  Day, 
and  yet  I  fee  nothing  come  of  it  ^  but  I  return 
from  my  Clofet,  or  from  Church,  jufi:  the  fame 
i  v/ent  in  :  None  anfwers  to  my  Call  ^  none 
fpeaks  Comfort  to  me  ^  my  Requcfts  are  not 
granted,  but  I  feem  to  have  taken  all  this  Pains 
tg  jio  manner  of  purpofe.  This  is  a  common,  but 
"'\  '  Bb4  With« 


?82  MEDITATIONS- 


withal  a  very  foolifh  Objection  ^  and  proceeds 
from  the  Ignorance  or  the  Impatience  of  thofe  that 
alledge  it.  Thefe  People  do  not  duly  obferve  the 
Import  of  that  Promife  which  Truth  it  felf  hath 
Mark  ii.  left  US,  Verily  T fay  unto  you,  what  thhigs  foever  ye 
24.  ask  when  ye  pray  ^  believe  that  ye  receive  them^   and  ye 

JImll  have  them.  Do  not  therefore  defpife  Prayer, 
as  if  it  were  a  Thing  of  no  Benefit  and  Confe- 
quence  ♦,  for  He  to  whom  thou  pra3^eft,makes  great 
account  of  it  •,  and  there  Is  not  a  word  thou  fpeakeft 
but  even  before  it  is  well  out  o[  thy  mouth,  he  or- 
ders it  to  be  written  in  his  Book.  One  of  thefe  two 
things  we  ought  to  depend  upon,  and  fhould  be 
poiTeiTed  with  the  moft  afTured  Perfuafion  of,  that 
God  will  always  give  us  either  the  very  thing  w^e 
ask,  or  in  its  ftead  fomewhat  elfe,  which  his  Wif- 
dom  knows  better  for  us.  Let  therefore  thy 
Tiioughts  of  God  be  the  nobleft  and  moft  honour- 
able, but  thofe  of  thy  felf  the  meaneft  and  moft 
humble,  that  j)oiribl7  they  can.  Thou  canft  not 
err  in  either  of  thefe  Extremities.  Thou  oughtefl: 
to  believe  much  more  greatly  of  God,  than  it  is  in 
the  Power  of  any  finite  Mind  to  conceive  :  And 
all  thofe  Intervals  of  Time  which  the  Thoughts  of 
Him  do  not  employ,  fhould  be  looked  upon  as  fo 
many  empty  and  inilgnificant  fpaces  of  thy  Life  •, 
a  Blank,which  adds  nothing  to  the  main  Account. 
And  hence  it  is  that  we  are  fo  particularly  concer- 
ned to  make  good  ufe  of  Time,  becaufe  all  other 
Things  are  remote  from  us,  and  not  in  our  Pow- 
er. They  are  Talents  fometimes  lent,  and  fome- 
times  called  in  again  by  our  Mailer  and  Creditor  -, 
butTimeis  always  with  us,  and  at  our  own  difpo- 
fal.  Therefore  be  fare  to  preferve  this  to  yourfelf, 
and  where-ever  you  are,  let  not  any  Bufinefs  or 
Diverfion  deprive  you  of  Leifure  to  ferve  God  and 
your  own  Soul.  Some  part  indeed  of  your  Time, 
the  Affairs  of  this  Life,  and  neceffary  Recreations 
will  of  neceffity  devour  -,  but  be  not  too  profufe 

upon 


MEDITATIONS.  ^8j 

upontheie  :  Remember  that  there  ought  to  be  a 
DifFerence  between  lending  your  felf  to  them  for 
a  little  while,  and  wholly  laying  your  felf  out  up- 
on them.  Nor  even  are  thefe  necefTary  Avoca- 
tions fo  importunate,  but  with  good  Management 
the  Matter  may  be  fo  ordered,  as  to  leave  room 
for  pious  Thoughts  to  come  in  betwixt,  and  for 
keeping  fuch  Refledions  as  tend  to  the  everlaft- 
ing  Good  of  the  Soul,  always  uppermoft  there. 
No  Place,  No  Time,  no  Buiinefs  can  make  thefe 
unfeafonable.  Arid  therefore  be  fure  to  preferve 
fuch  a  Maftery  over  yourfelf,  that  you  may  retire 
into  your  own  Breaftat  any  time,  and  find  great 
Satisfaction  in  doing  fo.  Your  Heart  is  wide,  and 
will  afford  you  much  Variety:  And  pleafure  you 
cannot  want,  if  Chrift  your  Spoufe  hath  taken  up 
his  lodging  in  it.  And  thus  as  it  is  with  every  vv^ife 
and  good  Man,  fo  it  fhould  be  with  every  Man  : 
For  ought  we  not  always  to  fet  Him  before  oir 
eyes,  by  "Whom  it  is  that  we  are,  and  live,  and 
think  at  all?  "VVe  could  not  have  had  anvExiftence, 
had  we  not  derived  it  from  Him  the  Author  and 
firft  Caufe  of  it.  We  could  not  think  to  any  pur- 
pofe,  were  not  he  our  Iiiftructor  and  Diredtor. 
We  could  not  be  happy  in  any  Degree,  were  not 
the  Bleffing  imparted  to  us  by  the  Giver  of  every 
good  and  per  fed  Gift.  And  in  thefe  rcfpeds  it  is 
that  we  come  to  be  fenfible  of  our  refemblance  to 
the  glorious  and  ever-blelTed  Trinity.  For  as  God 
Three  in  One  exifts,  and  is  Wifdom  and"  Good- 
nefs  in  the  Abftracland  Perfedion  -^fo  we  like  Wife 
exift  and  know  we  do  -fo,  and  love  that  Exiftence 
and  that  Knowledge  in  our  felves,  according  to 
Qur  Proportion  and  Capacity. 

Let  then  that  Image  of  God  which  is  in  thee, 
awaken  and  preferve  fuch  Refped  for  thy  Perfon 
as  is  due  to  a  Temple  of  his.  Now  the  greateft 
Honour  we  are  in  a  condition  of  paying  God,  is 
\)j  pur  Worlliip  and  our  Imitation.    Every  pious 


584  MEDITATIONS. 


heavenly-minded  Man  is  an  Imitator  of  God.  For 
a  devout  Mind  is  a  Houfe  confecrated  to  his  Ser- 
vice, and  a  pure  Heart  is  the  Altar,  that  fandifies 
every  Gift.  Thou  payeft  him  worfhip  and  reve- 
rence, if  thou  art  merciful,  as  th}^  Father  which 
is  in  Heaven  is  merciful  :  For  the  Apoftle  hath 
Heb.  13.  declared,  that  dijlnhutivg  and  dohig  good,  for  God's 
fake,  zrefacrijices  with  which  he  is  particularly  well- 
pleafed.  In  ail  things  demean  thy  felf  as  a  Child 
pfGod,  that  thou  may'ffcnotbe  a  Reproach  to  that 
Sonfhip,  which  he  in  wonderful  Mercy  hath  a- 
dopted  thee  to.  And  in  all  thou  doft,  be  fure  to 
coniider,  and  a6:,  as  becomes  a  Man  fenlible  that 
God  is  always  by  thee,  and  with  thee.  Take 
good  heed  then,  not  only  to  thy  outward  Senfes, 
but  even  to  thy  mojR:  fecret  Imaginations  •,  for  he 
fees  and  obferves  the  one  no  lefs  than  the  other  ; 
that  neither  of  them  engage  thee  in  any  unlawful 
or  impure  Pleafure.  And  how  ftrong  foever  thy 
Inclination  may  be,  yet  fufter  not  th}^  Tongue  to 
fpeak^  or  thy  Hands  to  a£l  any  evil  Thing  ^  but 
guard  thy  felf  from  giving  any  offence  to  God,  and 
driving  him  awa}''  from  thee.  Great  Caution  is 
needful  in  this  Cafe  •  for  who  can  be  too  circum- 
fped,  that  lives  and  acls  under  the  watchful  eyes  of 
an  all- feeing  Judge  ?  But  though  this  Refledlion 
maybe  a  Terror  to  the  Wicked,  yet  it  is  the  Com- 
fort and  Security  of  every  good  Chriftian,  who  fo 
purifies  his  Heart,  and  difpofes  his  Behaviour,  as 
to  render  his  Breafl:  a  delightful  Dwelling  to  the 
moft  High.  With  every  one  of  us,  in  fome  Senfe, 
God  cannot  but  be.  The  prefence  of  Juftice  fuc- 
ceeds  into  the  place  of  the  prefence  of  his  Grace, 
when  he  forfakes  the  loathfom  Dwelling  of  a  pol- 
luted Heart.  But  Woe  to  them,  who  feel  the  pre- 
fence of  his  Juftice  •  and  yet  we  may  denounce  a 
Woe  too  to  them  who  fometimes  feel  it  not  :  For 
then  God  is  angry  indeed,  when  he  fuflPers  us  to  lin 
without  making  us  to  fmart  for  it,    Wickednefs 

n^vei; 


MEDITATIONS.  ^8$ 


never  goes  unpuniihed,  and  they  whom  his  Rod 
does  not  corred:  in  this  World,  are  referved  to  his 
Vengeance  and  Hell-Fire  in  the  next. 


M 


CHAP.    VII. 

OST  certain  it  is,  that  Death  threatens  thee 

every  where,  and  the  Devil  is  perpetually 

laying  fnares  to  devour  thy  Soul  ♦,  but  then  efpeci- 

ally  will  he  lye  in  wait  for  thisPrey,when  it  takes 

its  flight  out  of  the  Body.   But  be  not  thou  afraid 

for  ten  thoufands  cf  thy  Enemies,  that  fet  them- 

felves  againfl:  thee  round  about  •,  for  God,  who 

dwelleth  in  thee,  ( if  he  do  indeed  dwell  in  thee 

hy  the  Spirit  of  his  Grace )  will  not  fail  to  deliver 

thee  both  from  Death  and  the  Devil.    He  is  a 

fure  Friend,  and  never  f orfakes  them  that  truft  in 

Him,  except  he  be  firfi:  forfaken  by  them.    And 

forfaken  he  is,  when  the  Heart  wanders  about  and 

lofes  it  felf  in  idle,  and  vicious,  andfruitlefs  Ima- 

ginations.     Therefore  above  all  Keepings,  keep 

thy  Soul,  that  God  may  fet  up  his  Reft  therewith 

Pleafure.    For  among  all  the  Creatures,  the  moft 

exalted  and  nobleft,  and  moft  God-like  of  any, 

that  are  expofed  to  the  Vanities  of  this  fublunary 

World,  is  the  Heart  of  Man.  Hence  it  is  that  God 

requires  nothing  of  thee  but  thy  Heart.   Purge  it 

therefore  from  Uncleannefs  by  godly  Sorrow,and 

frequent  Prayer  ^  that  thou,  by  thus  continually 

keeping  God'in  view,  may'ftbe  qualified  for  that 

Blejfing  of  feeing  Him,  which  belongs  only  to  the 

pure  171  Heart.  Let  thyThoughts  be  conftantly  fix- Wact.  5. 

ed  upon  Him,  and  all  thy  Behaviour  fo  regular 

and  compofed,  as  to  fpeak  a  profound  Deference 

for,  and  Subjedion  to  Him.   Preferve  thy  Temper 

from  being  ruffled  by  Paflions  of  any  fort  ^  love 

all  Men,  a^d  deferve  that  all  may  love  thee,  by 

+  cour^ 


g86  MEDITATION  S. 

courteous  and  obliging  Behaviour,  by  being  a 
Wac.'j  9.  reace'??iaker  in  this  refpect  more  peculiarly  a  Child 
of  God.  So  fhalt  thou  be  a  good  Chriftian,  holy, 
humble,  upright  ^  this  will  make  thee  one  of 
thofe  whofe  prayers  are  acceptable  with  God,  and 
when  thine  are  fo,  let  me  the  meanell  of  thy  Bre- 
thren, be  recommended  in  them. 

Alas  !  I  give  advice  to  others,  which  I  do  not 
follow  my  felf,  or  not  fo  ftridly,  or  not  fo  con- 
ftantly  as  I  ought.  Thefe  good  Inftruclions  are  in 
my  head  and  pen  •,  but  not  in  my  heart  and  life. 
O  that  my  A&ions  and  my  Manners,  and  not  my 
Words  only,  contained  and  publifhed  them !  How 
abfuid  a  thing  is  it  for  me  to  have  the  law  of  God 
all  Day  long  in  my  Thoughts  and  in  ivj  Mouth, 
and  3^et  be  doing  things  which  are  contrary  to 
the  law  >  I  read  much  there  of  the  Advantages  of 
Devotion  and  Retirement-,  and  I  am  much  fonder 
of  reading  than  I  'am  of  praying.  And  yet  the 
Sub  fiance  of  the  holy  Scripture  is  reduced  at  laft 
to  this  fhort  LefTon,  of  delighting  in  God,  loving 
and  doing  good  to  my  Brethren,  and  preferving 
Unity.  But  inftead  of  drawing  thefe  Rules  into 
pradice,  I  am  ftill  for  poring  upon  them,  and 
prefer  an  Hour  in  my  Study,  before  one  at  Church. 
Some  Friend  or  Neighbour  would  gladly  open  his 
cafe  to  me,  and  defire  my  aififtance-,  he  waits  my 
coming  with  impatience  •,  and  I,  inilead  of  anfwer- 
ing  his  Expedation,  take  up  a  Book,  and  entertain 
my  felf  wich  that.  But  all  the  Knowledge  thus 
acquired  makes  a  very  poor  amends  for  the  lofs  of 
thatadvantage  which  my  doing  an  Office  of  Cha- 
rity would  have  enfared  me.  Thus  by  turning 
Religion  into  empty  Speculation,  I  feel  none  of 
thofe  tender  and  warm  Refreihments  of  Mind, 
thofe  Bowels  of  Pit}^,  that  largenefs  of  Heart,  thofe 
inward  Compundlior.s  of  Sin,  and  the  fenfible, 
the  tranfporting  pleafures  of  prayer  and  heavenly 
Contemplations.    And  yet,  how  little  foever  the 

mifta- 


MEDITATIONS.  387 


miftaken  and  vitiated  Palates  of  the  World  may 
relifh  thofe  things,  there  is  not  in  this  life  any 
Delight  fo  fweet,  any  which  the  Mind  more  gree- 
dily catches  at,  any  that  fo  eifedually  exalts  us 
above  the  Drofs  of  and  Dotage  for  this  World  and 
its  Vanities  ♦,  any  fo  ftrong  a  Defence  againft 
Temptations,  any  fo  powerful  promoter  of  all 
manner  of  Yertue  and  Goodnefs,  nor  fo  indefa- 
tigable fuftainer  of  Labour  and  Difficulty,  as 
the  Grace  of  fervent  Prayer,  and  devout  Con- 
templation. 


CHAP.    VIII. 

Of  wajidrmg  Thoughts  in  Prayer. 

ITAve  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  and  aflift  me 
jL  againft  my  felf^  for  fuch  is  my  infirmity, 
that  there  efpecially  do  I  fall  into  fin,  where  my 
obligations  and  endeavours  are  moft  indifpenfable 
to  avoid  and  reform  it.  I  am  afhamed  to  think  how 
often  I  pray,  and  all  the  while  regard  not  what  I 
fpeak.  Thus  do  I  pray  with  the  Mouth,  but 
not  with  the  Spirit  ^  for  while  my  Mind  is  ram- 
bling, my  Tongue  runs  over  empty  Forms.  My 
Body  indeed  is  in  the  Clofet  of  the  Church,  but 
my  Heart  is  at  a  diftance,  in  the  Play-houfe,  at 
the  Exchange,  in  a  hundred  other  Places  •,•  and 
then  what  wonder,  if  all  I  fay  be  loft  and  fruit- 
lefs  >  For  what  can  it  poffibly  fignify  for  the  Voice 
to  perform  its  Part  never  fo  punctually,  if  the 
Mind  in  the  mean  while  give  no  manner  of  Atten- 
tion >  And  can  there  be  any  greater  perverfenefs, 
greater  Infolence,  greater  Madnefs,  than  to  turn 
the  deaf  Ear,  and  run  after  Trifles  and  Imperti- 
nences, when  we  take  upon  us  to  converfe  with 
the  Majefty  of  Heaven  and  Earth  in  Prayer  ?  can 

'       '  .     there 


:?88  MEDITATIONS. 


there  on  the  other  hand  be  any  thing  more  fenfe- 
lefs,  more  provoking  than  for   vile  Earth  and 
Alhes  to  behave  it  felf  negligently,  and  not  to 
think  the  great  Creator  of  the  Univerfe  worth 
liftening  to,  when  he  vouchfafes  to  fpeak  to  us  by 
his  Scriptures  and  his  Minifters  >   But  efpecially, 
can  any  thing  compare  with  that  unwearied  Pa- 
tience and  Forbearance,  that  Mercy  and  Conde- 
Xcenfion  of  a  gracious  and  forgiving  God,  whicli 
fees  fuch  Wretches  every  day  turning  the  deaf  ear, 
refujtvg  the  Voice  of  the  Charmer^  charm  he  iieverfo 
mfely^  hardening  their  Hearts,  and  regardlefs  of 
their  own  Duty  and  Advantage,  and  yet  inftead 
of  taking  fpeedy  Vengeance,  repeats  his  kind  In- 
Prov.  I.    yjtations,  and  cries  aloud,  0  yejimple  07ies,  how  lovg 
'      *     wiU  ye  love  JimpUcity^  and  fcorners  delight  in  f corning, 
Ka?.  4.     aftd  fools  hate  knowledge  <?     Turn  ye  at  7ny  reproofs 
and  45.     confider  your  ways^  and  he  wife.     JBeJfill,  and  commune 
with  your  own  hearts^  and  know  thatlamGod. 

God  fpeaks  to  me,  and  I  to  him  in  a  Pfalm  * 
and  yet  fo  great  is  my  Stupidity,  that  I  often  re- 
peat the  Words  without  ever  regarding  the  Sub- 
ject, and  the  Senfe,  the  Author,  or  the  Defign  of 
it.  And  can  I  be  guilty  of  a  greater  difrefped, 
a  more  manifeft  Injury  to  Almighty  God,  than 
when  I  befeech  him  to  hear  thofe  Prayers  which 
I  m.y  felf  who  make  them,  do  not  attend  to,  nor 
know  what  goes  out  of  my  Mouth  at  the  very  in- 
ftant  of  pronouncing  ?  I  exped  God  fhould  have 
a  particular  regard  to  me,  while  I  have  none  at 
all  either  to  him  or  to  my  felf :  Nay,  can  I  hope 
for  any  Benefit,  while  I  do  which  is  worfe  *,  while 
I  bring  into  his  Prefence,  a  Heart  full  of  vain,  and 
loofe,  impure,  and  finful  Thoughts,  and  fo  offend 
his  Sight  with  Corruption  and  Filth,  which  is  not 
indeed  a  Heart,  but  the  loathfome  {linking  Car- 
kafs  of  a  Heart. 

CHAP. 


i^PMM^hla  <i* 


MEDITATIONS.  389 

CHAP.    IX. 

The  Ficklenefs  of  Man's  Heart. 

N'Othing  can  be  more  reftlefs  and  fleeting,  no 
Part  of  my  Nature  is  fo  perpetually  chang- 
ing as  my  Heart :  Every  time  it  gives  me  the  flip, 
andlets  it  felf  loofe  to  unprofitable  and  wicked 
Thoughts,  it  does  certainly  break  oft  from  God, 
and  tranfgrefs  its  Duty  to  Him.  And  how  exceed- 
ing vain  and  trifling,  how  wandring  and  unfet- 
led  is  this  fl:rowling  Vagabond  •,  never  fixing,  while 
following  its  ownWill,and  not  fleering  by  the  gui- 
dance and  counfel  of  God  >  For  its  felf  is  a  perpe- 
tual Motion,  without  any  Principle  of  Reft  from 
within  •  and  therefore  it  out-ftrips  the  fwiftelt  Bo- 
dies, is  under  a  thoufand  different  Determinations 
at  once,  and  flies  about  in  Queft  of  Objedts  innu- 
merable.    It  makes  Experiments,  but  to  no  pur- 
pofe  ^  feeks  reft  every  where,  but  finds  it  no  where^ 
is  fure  of  Labour  and  Difappointment,  and  all  the 
Mifery  thefe  can  bring,  but  Happiiiefs  flies  from 
it,  and  its  Purfuits  have  never  their  hoped  for  end. 
It  is  not  fo  much  as  confiftent  with  it  felf,  butdif- 
agrees  and  flies  oft  from  its  own  Propofals  ^  chan- 
ges its  Inclinations  and  Ayerfions,  loves  and  hates, 
diflikes  old,  and  takes  new  Meafures :  Starts  freih 
Projects,  fets  up  and  pulls  down,  and  runs  the 
Race  over  and  over  again  •,  turns  things  this  Way, 
and  that  Way,  and  every  Way  *,  and  all  this  from 
its  own  Mercurial  Nature,  that  can  lye  ftill  no 
where,  but  muft  be  always  in  adion,  though  it 
act  in  Contradiction  to  it  felf.     This  is  wliat  I 
have  often  reprefented  to  my  felf  by  a  Wind-Mill, 
which  whirls  about  apace,  and  takes  all  you  put 
into  it,  grinds  all  you  pour  ^  but  if  you  pour  in 
nothings  ftill  it  goes  -,  and,  for  want  of  other  ma- 


X 


^9o  MEDITATIONS. 


terials  to  employ  it,  fets  its  felf  on  fire.  Juft  thus 
my  Heart  is  always  at  work,  afleep  or  awake  it 
ftands  not  ^  but  either  by  Dreams,  or  by  fuch  wa- 
king thoughts  as  oftentimes  are  very  little  better^ 
it  isftill  under  fail,  and  nothing  comes  amifs  to  it. 
Again,  as  Sand  and  Stones  if  put  into  the  Mill, 
break  it,  pitch  or  dirt  foul  it,  chaff  choaks  it  up  •, 
fo  is  it  with  this  heart  of  mine.  AfflidingThoughts 
difturb  it,  unclean  pollute  it,  idle  and  unprofita- 
ble ones  tire  and  harafs  it.  And  thus  it  will  be, 
while  it  negleds  fpiritual  and  future  Good,  and 
does  notobferve  the  Law  of  God  for  its  Rule,  and 
attain  his  Affiftance  for  its  Support :  All  its  confu- 
lion  grows,  in  proportion  as  it  is  more  eflranged 
from  the  love  ot  heavenly  things,  and  entangled 
with  the  bewitchmg,  but  always  empty  and  trea- 
cherous Objeds  here  below. 

Now  when  the  Soul  falls  from  thofe  worthy,  and 
is  bewildred  in  thefe  fordid  Affedions  •,  Vanity 
feizes  it,  Curiofitjr  diftracts  it.  Covetous  Defires 
allure  it,  Pleafure  fediices  it.  Luxury  defiles  it. 
Envy  racks  it.  Anger  ruffles  it,Grief  affiids  and  de- 
preffes  it  -,  and  thus,  obnoxious  to  every  kind  of 
Mifery,  it  is  overwhelm'd  and  funk  in  all  manner 
of  Vice  ^  and  all,  becaufe  it  forfook  God,  which 
lingly  was  the  Good  large  enough  to  aniwer  all 
its  wants  and  wiflies.  The  Mind  is  diffipated  and 
fcatter'd  among  a  multitude  of  Trifles  ^  and,  tho' 
it  anxioufly  feek  for  fatisfadion,  can  yet  attain  to 
none,  till  it  return  to  that  one  All-fufficient  Ob- 
ject. It  roves  from  Thought  to  Thought,  tumbles 
about  like  a  feaverifh  Man,  and  tries  to  find  that 
eafe  from  variety,  which  the  quality  and  intrin- 
fick  value  of  the  things  themfelves  is  not  able  to- 
furnifh.  Thus  miferably  does  the  Heart  of  Man 
fall,  till  it  become  even  Mifery  in  the  abftrad  5 
for  fuch  it  is,  when  abandoned  to  its  own  folly^; 
and  deprived  of  the  diredion  and  affiftance  of 
divine  Grace,     But  when  it  returns  and  retires 

into 


MEDITATIONS.  391 

into  it  felf,  and  comes  nicely  to  examine  what 
are  the  fruits  of  all  its  pall  folicitude,  it  finds  it 
felf  deluded,  and  nothing  remaining  in  hand  ^ 
becaufe  the  whole  refult  of  all  this  Care  is  no  real 
Suhftance,  but  only  an  anxious  Thought,  a  fan- 
taftical  aiery  Notion,  that  compounds  an  imagi- 
nary Being,  out  of  wild  Ideas  of  its  own  forming  ; 
And  thus  Men  are  deceived  by  an  empty  Than- 
tome,  which  tlie  Devil  and  his  Temptations  in-* 
duftrioufly  dreffed  up,  that  its  falfe  beauties  might 
be  qualified  efrectually  to  cheat  them  into  Ruine. 
My  God  commands  me  to  give  him  my  Heart,  and 
my  difobedience  to  his  Command  renders  me  at 
the  fame  time  a  Rebel  to  my  own  beft  Reafon. 
For  the  Conditions  of  my  Duty  are  fo  ordered, 
that  I  cannot  live  in  Subjection  to  my  felf,  but 
hy  living  in  Subjedion  to  him  •  and  all  I  do  in 
compliance  with  my  own  Mind  comes  hard  and 
ftrained,  and  goes  againft  the  grain,  becaufe  I 
have  not  got  the  maftery  of  my  own  heart  fo  as 
to  ferve  God  willingly  and  chearfully.  The  neg- 
lecting to  fix  my  heart  upon  its  proper  bufinefs,  is 
the  occafion,  that  it  lays  m.ore  Plots  in  one  fingle 
Minute,  than  all  Mankind  are  able  to  accomplifh 
in  multitudes  of  Years.  So  long  as  I  am  not  united 
with  God,  I  am  divided  in,  and  at  perpetual 
Strife  with  my  felf.  Now  this  Union  with  God 
can  only  be  fecured  by  Charity,  this  Subjection 
to  him  muft  be  grounded  in  Humility,  and  that 
Humility  again  muft  be  the  refult  of  my  Icndwing 
and  believing  the  truth,  and  having  right  Noti- 
ons of  God  and  my  felf. 

Highly  neceifary  therefore,  and  of  great  ufe  it 
is  that  I  enquire  diligently,  and  difcover  the  true 
Hate  of  my  Soul,  that  I  be  duly  fenfible,  how 
i^ile,  how  frail,  how  liable  to  change,  and  corrup- 
tion I  am.  Then,  having  found  the  extream  fin- 
fulnefs  and  mifery  of  my  Nature,  my  next  Care 
muft  be  to  lay  hold  upon,  and  hold  faft  by  him, 

C  c  from 


592 


MEDITATIONS. 


from  whom  I  derive  my  Being,  without  whom 
I  neither  am  anything,  nor  able  to  do  any  thing. 
And  becaufe  it  is  by  Sin  I  have  departed  from  my 
God,  the  way  to  come  back  to  him  again  miift 
needs  be  by  true  Confeffion  and  Repentance  of 
thofe  Sins,  which  have  fet  me  at  fo  wide  a  Diftance 
from  him.  In  the  confeffion  of  our  faults,  we 
fhould  proceed  with  all  poffible  fincerity  and  dili- 
gence, and  a6t  without  any  private  referves.  A 
tiling  too  feldom  done  •,  for  how  few  are  there, 
who,  when  they  declare  the  Fads  committed,  lay 
open  all  the  Circumftances,  all  the  wicked  Means 
and  Ends  by  which  their  Guilt  was  aggravated  ? 
Nay,  how  unufual  is  it  pundually  to  confefs  the 
very  Fads,  fome  of  which  time  and  negligence 
have  worn  out  all  Impreffion  of,  or  if  not  fo,  yet 
when  we  look  back,  the  Number  appears  fo  great, 
that  we  content  our  felves  with  general  Terms, 
and  think  it  endlefs  to  defcend  to  Particulars.  A- 
gain,  in  our  Confeffions,  how  little  are  we  touch- 
ed with  an  abhorrence  of  that  Turpitude  and 
Bafenefs,  which  ought  to  be  the  moft  powerful, 
but  is  commonly  the  weakeft  Motive  to  that  Ihame 
and  remorfe  we  feel  upon  the  Account  of  our 
Sins?  If  we  call  in  the  Advice  of  our  Guides,  and 
open  our  Cafe  to  a  fpiritual  Phyfician,  how  do 
we  mangle  and  difguife  our  Confeffions,  reveal- 
ing one  part  to  one,  another  to  another,  rela- 
ting things  imperfedly,  fhewing  them  in  falfe 
Lights,  and  contriving  not  fo  much  to  inform,  as 
to  keep  them  in  Ignorance,what  fort  of  Perfons 
we  really  have  been  ?  This  is  the  Reafon  that  fo 
little  Benefit  is  reccivM  from  their  ghoftly  Coun- 
fels  and  Comforts,  becaufe  wediffemble  the  Mat- 
ter, and  when  they  fpeak  peace,  our  own  Con- 
fcience  can  upbraid  us  with  Hypocrify,  and  tell 
iis,  that  thofe  Abfolutions  c-o  not  of  right  be- 
long to  us  which  we  have  obtained  purely  by 
our  own  fraudulent  Management,  and  conceal- 
ing 


M  E  D  I  T  x\  T  I  O  N  S.  395 


ing  the  blackeft  and  moft  dangerous  Part  of  our 
Crimes.  For  we  are  not  to  fuppofe,  that  any 
Confeffion  will  do  us  fervice,  except  it  be  at- 
tended with  Truth  and  Simplicity  of  Heart  : 
Nor  will  the  Releafes  given  by  God's  Miniflers' 
upon  Earth,  avail  the  Sinner  for  Pardon,  any  far- 
ther, than  as  the  cafe  reprefent  ed  to  thofe  Servants 
and  Officers,  agtees  with  that  State  of  it,  which 
lies  before  their  All-feeing  Mafter  in  Heaven. 

But  to  all  this  perhaps  may  be  objeded,  what 
need  of  any  Application  at  all  to  thefe  fpiritual 
Guides,  or  why  Ihould  our  Offences  be  told  to  any 
Man*  fince  God  alone  can  pardon  them,  and  what 
Men  do  will  ftand  us  in  no  ftead,till  it  be  ratified  in 
the  Court  above  ?  To  all  this,take  not  mine,but  the 
Apoftle'sAnfwer,  Confefs  yourJi7is  to  one  another ^  aytd 
pray  one  for  another,  "  Some  Offences  are  not  only 
againft  God,  but  againft  our  Brethren  too,  and 
fure  ought  to  be  acknowledged  to  the  injured 
Party ,in  order  to  fatisfadion  and  reconciliation. 
Others  may  be  imparted  profitably  •,  either  for 
advice  in  doubtful  and  difficult  cafes, where  par- 
tiality or  want  of  skillmay  incapacitate  us  for 
making  a  right  Judgment  of  our  diftemper,  or  its 
proper  remedies  ^or  elfe,  to  engage  the  aiiiftance 
"  andinterceiPion  of  our  friends  ^  on  all  which  and 
"  fome  other  accounts,it  may  be  very  convenient, 
*'  if  not  abfolutely  neceffary,  to  difclofe  our  fins 
"  to  God's  Priefts,who  are  qualified  to  be  faithful 
"  and  v/ife  Councellors,  fervent  and  powerful  In- 
^'  terceffors  for  us.  Andvixdl  it  were,  if  Men,who 
"  have  been  proudly  and  obftinately  rebellious 
*'  againft  God,  would  exercife  this  Dif  ipHne  up- 
«  on  themfelves,  and  undergo  the  Humiliation  of 
^'  acknowledging  their  ov/nvilcnefs  to  his  Mini- 
^'  fters.  Well,  if  they  would  take  this  Method  of 
"  having  their  Condition  ajid  their  Concern  for  it 
''  particularly  recom.mended  in  the  affectionate 
^^  prayers  of  thofe  whom  their  funftion  obliges  to  be 
^^•^  C  c  2  "  the 


?94 


MEDITATIONS. 


cc, 


"  the  moft  tender  Lovers  of  Souls  :    This  might 
"  have  excellent  Effe6ls,  both  in  increafing  their 
"  own  Compundion,  and  in  difpofing  God  to  pi- 
"  ty  it  :     And  as  this  taking  of  Shame  upon  our 
*'  felves,  might  facilitate  the  Cure  of  what  is 
paft,  fo  would  it  douhtlefs  be  a  mighty  Check 
to  Men,  where  fecrefy  is  a  prevailing  Tempta- 
tion, and  render  them  more  ciA:umfpedt  for  the 
"  Time  to  come.    This  is  what  all  ferious  and 
"  Confiderate  Perfons   mufi:  allow  to  be  highly 
'^  expedient,  though  it  be  not  indifpenfably  ne-* 
•'  ceffary  :  For  where  the  heart  is  duly  humbled, 
"  the  fin  fufficiently  lamented,  the  Man  erfedu- 
"  ally  reformed,  we  have  no  reafon  to  believe, 
"  that  God  will  not  accept  the  performance  of 
"  that  work  upon  confelTion  to  himfelf  alone  ^  in 
''  which  our  confeffing  to  Men  can  be  no  farther 
"  ferviceable,  than  only  as  it  is  a  probable  means 
*•*  of  having  it  performed  more  effeclnally,  than 
^*  ^ordinarily  fpeakingj  it  was  like  to  have  been 
•«'  without  fuch  Confeliion. 


CHAP.    X. 

Of  exciifing  our  Faults. 

HOW  often,  when  I  have  fet  my  felf  to  make  an 
entire  confelTion  of  my  Faults,  have  I  added 
to  their  number  and  guilt,  inftead  of  purging  and 
amending  them  ?  How  often,  when  any  of  them 
were  charged  upon  me,  have  I  either  falfely  dif- 
owned  them,-  or  cunningly  Ihifted  them  off,  or 
foftened  and  difguifed  them  by  artificial  Colours 
and  plaufible  Extenuations?  Nay,  which  is  worfe 
than  all  thefe,  how  often  have  I  abandoned  all 
Modefty  and  Shame,  and  impudently  defended 
what  1  ought  to  have  blulhed  for  ^  and  been  en- 
raged 


MEDITATIONS.  395 

■  -     -  -  -  ■ 

raged  beyond  all  patience  to  be  charged  with 
thofe  things,  which  my  own  Confcience  told  me 
all  the  whilewere  very  juft  accufations  ?  And  in- 
deed what  Accufations  are  not  juft  >  For  fure 
there  is  no  fort  of  Wickednefs,but  I  either  actually 
have  been,  or,  had  I  been  left  to  my  own  corrupt 
Inclinations,  Ihould  moft  certainly  have  been  pol- 
luted with  it.  And  therefore  it  is  fit  that  in  a 
due  Senfe  of  my  Abominations,  and  an  humble 
refleftion  upon  all  the  reft  which  I  was  naturally 
difpofed  to,I  fliouldlay  my  hand  upon  my  Mouth, 
bewail  my  grievous  tranfgreiTions,  and  the  mifery 
and  wrath  they  have  moft  juftly  expofed  me  to  ; 
ferioufly  intend  and  promife  a  thorough  reforma? 
-tion  ^  take  fandtuary  in  no  trifling  Pretences  or  ex- 
tenuating fliifts  5  fubmit  to  think  as  ill  of  my  felf 
as  I  deferve,  and  patiently  take  the  reproofs  and 
admonitions  of  others  ^  in  a  word,  fo  demean  my 
felf  with  regard  to  paft  faults,  that  they  may  not 
rife  up  any  more  againft  me,  and  for  the  future 
avoid  offending  with  all  pollible  diligence  :  For  i  cor.  lu 
if  I  thus  judge  ayid  condemn  my  felf^  Ifiall  not  be  go, 
condemned  of  the  Lord. 


CHAP.    XL 

A  further  Confejfion  of  Sins. 

My  TranfgreiTions  have  contributed  to  the 
Deftrudion  not  of  my  felf  alone,  but  of 
many  befides  :  for,  being  confcious  to  my  felf 
how  heinous  and  numerous  my  own  Crimes 
have  been,  I  feel  a  fecret  fhame  and  fear,  which 
reftrains  me  from  reproving  others  when  they  do 
amifs.  And  thus  I  become  acceffary  to  the  Death 
of  their  Souls  too,  by  tamely  fuitering  that  poy- 
fon  to  fpread,  tlie  malignity  whereof  might  b^ 
'     '  "      C  c  3  expel- 


-^^e  MEDITATIONS. 

expelled  by  timely  warning  or  Iharp  reprehenfi- 
cns.  I  take  it  ill  of  them  who  rebuke  me  for  m.y 
Faults,  and  hate  them  whom  this  friendl}''  Office 
fhould  have  taught  me  to  prefer  before  thofe  falfe 
Pretenders  to  Friendlhip,  whofe  treacherous  Com- 
plaisance choofes  to  fee  me  eternally  undone, 
rather  than  to  fave  me  from  Hell,  by  this  moft 
profitable,  but  diftaftefal  piece  of  Service.  "When 
any  thing  created  me  Uneafinefs,  my  Impatience 
hath  tempted  me  to  wifh  that  it  might  ceafe  to  be, 
or  that  it  never  had  been  at  all  •,  and  3''et  upon 
RecoUedion,  I  could  not  but  acknowledge,  that 
He  who  made  every  thing  is  good,  and  that  every 
thing  he  made  is  very  good,  in  its  own  Nature  ^ 
and  confequently,  if  it  proved  evil  to  me  in  the 
Event,  or  the  Effedts  of  it,  the  only  Reafon  muft 
be,  that  i  my  felf  was  evil,  and  wanted  the  Grace 
and  Prudence  to  make  a  right  Ufe  of  it.  For  after 
all,  nothing  can  work  me  Mifchief  except  my  felf. 
The  Harm  that  I  fuftain,  I  carr}^  about  with  me, 
and  never  am  a  real  Sufferer  but  by  my  own  Fault. 
I  have  been  fo  extravagant  as  to  wifh,  that  God 
might  want  either  the  Will  or  Power  to  take  ven- 
geance on  my  Sins  ^  which  what  is  it  in  truth  but 
to  defire,  that  He  were  defective  in  his  moft  eflen- 
tial  Excellence,  his  "VVifdom  and  Knowledge,  his 
Jufdce  and  Omnipotence  >  And  yet  fuppoling  him 
to  be  fo,  he  muft  at  the  fame  time  ceafe  to  be 
God.  Ko  Pride  was  more  excellive  than  mine, 
which  above  all  other  Vices  renders  Salvation  ha- 
zardous. For  God  always  looks  upon  this  Difpo- 
fition  with  a  very  jealous  Eye  ^  he  cannot  away 
with  it,  nor  be  reconciled  to  it.  He  dwells  with 
the  contrite  and  humble  •,  but  the  fame  Indignati- 
on v/hich  would  not  endure  Pride  in  the  fame 
Heaven  with  himfelf,  makes  him  difdain  to  dwell 
by  his  Grace  in  the  fame  Breaft  with  it.  "Tis  true, 
thisYice  was  born  and  firft  appeared  in  Heaven  ^ 
but,  as  if  by  feme  flrange  Infatuation  it  had  forgot 

the 


MEDITATIONS. 


397 


the  Way  hj  which  it  fell  thence,  it  never  could 
get  up  thither  again.  When  the  Weather  is  foul, 
or  extreamly  cold  or  hot,  I  have  been  fo  wicked 
andunreafonableas  to  repine  and  murmur  againft 
Providence.  So  dexterous  are  wc  grown  in  \Vick- 
ednefs,  as  to  turn  thofe  things  into  Occafions  and 
Improvements  of  our  Sins,  which  the  Bounty  of 
that  Providence  fends  us  for  the  Convenic;  ces  of 
Life.  And  fince  we  thus  contrive  to  make  every 
thing  contribute  to  our  Wickednefs,  it  is  but  juft 
in  God  foto  order  the  matter,  that  nothing  ihould 
be  incapable  of  becoming  inftrumentalto  our  Pu- 
nifhment.  In  the  Performance  of  my  publick  De- 
votions, I  have  often  put  my  Voice  to  the  ftretch, 
and  been  more  folicitous  for  a  pathetical  Delivery, 
or  a  mufical  Cadence,  than  for  the  Fervency  and 
inward  Zeal  of  my  Heart.  But  God,  who  is  privy 
to  the  moft  fecret  Thoughts,  is  not  to  be  impofed 
upon  by  Shews  and  Sounds  ^  he  looks  not  at  the  a- 
greeablenefs  of  theyoice,but  the  purity  and  pious 
Difpofition  of  the  Soul.  And  too  often  it  happens 
that  he  v/ho  charms  the  People  with  the  Sweet- 
nefs  of  his  Tone,  does  but  grate  the  Ears  of  God, 
and  provoke  him  by  the  perverfencfs  of  his  Tem- 
per and  Behaviour. 

How  often  hath  my  Importunity  extorted  from 
my  friends  or  fpiritual  Guides,leave  to  indulge  my 
feif  in  fome  particular  Liberty,which  they  thought 
inconvenient  I  Not  conlidering  (Fool  that  I  am  ! ) 
that  he  does  but  deceive  himfelf,  who  takes  pains 
to  work  his  Advifers  up  to  a  Compliance  with  his 
own  Inclinations,  in  oppofition  to  their  own  im- 
partial and  better  Senfe.  I  have  allov/ed  my  felf 
in  coveting,  or  indirectly  procuring  things  of 
fmall  value  ^  and  flatter'd  my  Confcience  with  an 
idle  Fancy  that  the  Sin  was  not  worth  repenting 
of,  becaufe  the  Price  of  what  I  got  was  incon- 
liderable  :  And  yet  the  reafon  of  the  thing  con- 
vinces me,  that  the  Obliquity  of  any  Action  is  to 

C  c  4  bf 


398 MEDITATIONS. 

be  meafured,  not  by  the  value  of  the  advantage  I 
propofe  from  it,  but  the  pravitjr  of  the  corrupt 
afFedion,  which  purfues  that  advantage  inordi- 
luke  1 5.  nR{t]j.  For  he  that  is  inifaithful  in  little^  willalfo  be 
7nifa2thfid  hi  viiich  •,  and  it  is  not  the  Objed,  but 
the  Defire,  and  the  undue  Methods  of  obtaining 
it,  that  conftilute  the  Effence  of  the  Sin.  When 
I  was  emplo3^ed  in  bufinefs,  I  have  not  taken  all 
the  Pains  I  might  or  ought  to  have  done.  When 
I  enjo37'ed  I.eiitire  and  Retirement,  I  have  been 
perfedly  thoughtlefs,  and  this  is  certainl}^'  a  great 
Offence,  to  negled  the  improvement  of  fiich  hap- 
py Opportunities.  For  no  Man  ought  fo  to  feque- 
iler  himfelf  fromx  the  world,as  not  to  make  his  foli- 
tiide  turn  to  {omt  good  account  for  the  benefit 
of  others  :  Nor  fhould  any  be  fo  deeply  engaged 
in  the  bufinefs  of  the  World,  as  not  to  leave  room 
for  God  and.heavenl3r  Contemplations.  And  he 
is  but  a  very  indifferent  Proficient  who  does  not 
always  confult  and  promote  the  good  of  others, 
when  it  lies  in  his  power.  I  have  been  often  guil- 
ty of  that  worft  and  mofl  wicked  of  all  inanities, 
the  boafiingof  my  Sins  ^fondly  imagining  that  to 
be  my  Glory,  which  was  in  truth  my  Shame  and 
•  Fault.  Nay  fo  perverfely  have  I  managed,  as  even 
to  turn  my  Vertues  into  Vices.  For  Juflice,  when 
it  exceeds  on  the  rigorous  fide,  degenerates  into 
Cruelty  •,  andexcefs  of  piety  and  good  nature  en- 
courages offenders  by  too  great  an  eafinefs,  and 
relaxation  of  that  Difcipline,  which  fhould  con- 
ftrain  them  to  better  Manners  :  And  thus  it  often 
happens,  that  what  Men  value  as  an  Excellence, 
is  really  a  Vice,  and  great  Defed.  Thus  Sloth  and 
a  tame  Infenfibility,  pafTes  for  a  quiet  Spirit,  and 
meeknefs  of  Difpoiition.  I  have  pretended  to  be 
what  I  was  not,  prcfefl  to  defire  what  I  fecretly  ^ 
hated  or  feared,  and  to  dread  and  refufc  what  I 
palfionately  defired :  my  tongue  and  my  heart 
were  often  very  diftant,  and  I  have  aded  theFo.^ 

under 


MEDITATIONS.  3^9 

under  Sheep's  cloa thing'  For  what  are  the  quali- 
ties of  a  di/Tembling  Fox,  if  thefe  that  follow  be 
not?  A  lulce-w  arm  behaviour,  a  fenfual  Mind, 
counterfeit  Confeffionsof  Sin,fits  ofRemorfe  that 
laft  but  a  little  while ,  and  return  but  very  fel- 
dom  ^  Obedience  without  Cheerfulnefs,  Prayer 
without  Devotion,  Reading  without  Edification, 
Talk  without  mature  Confideration? 

O  how  harlh  and  cutting  are  any  Rtfieciions  of 
this  kind  to  me,  becaufe  I  am  confcious  that  all 
the  Edge  of  them  is  turned  upon  my  own  Soul  ? 
But  though  this  be  my  wretched  Cafe,  jet,  in 
regard  I  do  not  difown  or  cover  my  faults,  but 
with  all  humility  and  forrow  confefs  my  felf  a  moft 
vile,  miferable  Sinner  ^  fome  hope  there  is,  that 
with  my  righteous  and  merciful  Judge,  the  ac- 
knowledgment of  my  Oftencesmay  prevail  for  a 
pardon.  I  will  therefore  pour  out  my  complaint  be- 
fore hiin,  and  declare  the  worft  of  my  Condition, 
that  fo,  if  it  be  poffible,  his  bowels  may  relent  and 
yearn  over  one,  loft,  unworthy  of  CompaJiion, 
upon  any  other  account,  than  only  as  Extremity 
of  Mifery  can  recommend  me  to  it.  There  fhall 
not  a  fin  be  left  unenquired^after,  or  concealed 
when  found  ^  for  the  firft  ftep  towards  heaven  is  to 
fee  and  lament  the  near  approaches  we  have  made 
to  Hell.  I  have  gone  on  in  great  Security,  as  if 
thofe  outward  appearances  of  Religion,  which  the 
ftation  I  am  in  obliges  me  to,  would  do  the  bu- 
finefs.  But  alas  !  thefe  are  a  deceitful  Tryal  ^ 
the  Outfide  may  look  fair  and  promife  well  ^  but 
Woe  to  him  who  trufts  to  that,  without  attending 
to  the  Rottennefs  within,  and  the  Worm  that 
gnaws  at  his  heart-ftrings.  To  fuch  circumftances  „  r  -  g; 
we  m^ja])'p\yth2Lto£HoJea^Stra7Jgers  have  devoured 
hh  fireytgth^and  hehwwetb  not^yea^gray  hairs  are  hers 
and  there iipon  hlm^  yet  he  hwwethh  not.  Thus  I,like 
Ephrahn  heretofore,  fixing  my  thoughts  and  care 
wholly  upon  the  things  that  are  without,  and  ig- 
'  t  norant 


40G  MEDITATION  S. 


norant  and  unconcerned  how  Matters  ftand  with- 
in, am  poured  out'  like  Water,  and  become  alto, 
gether  unprofitable  and  vain.  The  paft  i  forget^ 
the  prefent  I  difregard,  and  the  future  I  make  no 
Provifion  for.  The  Mercies  and  Benefits  I  receii^e 
I  am  unthankful  for,  the  Temptations  to  Evil  I 
feel  a  wondrous  Forwardnefs  to  compl}''  with  •,  but 
the  Motions  and  Perfuafions  to  any  thing  that  is 
good,  make  flight  Impreffions,  and  find  me  flow 
and  heavy. 


CHAP.     XII. 

THis  duty  of  felf-examination,  which  I  am  now 
upon,  I  find  at  once  a  plain  neceflit}^  for, 
and  yet  a  mighty  Difcouragement  from.  For,  if 
I  do  not  nicely  look  into  my  Soul,  I  Ihall  continue 
ignorant  of  my  own  Condition  •,  and  if  I  do,  the 
Ghaftlinefs  and  Deformity  that  I  difcover  there, 
make  me  a  perfed  Monfler,  and  a  terrour  to  my 
felf.  TJie  Matter  for  reproof  and  confufion  which 
appears  there,  is  wofiilly  great  •,  and  yetthe  oftner 
and  more  narrowly  I  fet  about  this  fearch,the  more 
lurking  Abominations  ftill  I  bring  to  ligh  t.  How 
fhould  it  indeed  be  otherwife,fince  every  corner  of 
my  heart  is  a  Cage  of  unclean  Birds  ^  fince  every 
day  from  my  firft  beginning  to  fin,  hath  made  Ad- 
ditions to  the  black  Account  •,  and  even  now,  tho' 
fenfible  of  my  Wretchednefs,  I  do  not  ceafe  to 
heap  new  Guilt  upon  the  former  >  The  Offences 
which  are  plainly  before  my  eyes,  I  can  look  upon 
without  any  fenfible  Concern  •,  I  fee  that  which 
ought  to  make  me  alhamed  exceedingly,  yet  am 
not  the  lead  out  of  countenance  at  it :  And  that 
which  fhould  even  break  my  Heart  with  Grief, 
gives  me  no  manner  of  Uneafinefs.  But  fure  this 
is  a  mortal  Symptom,  and  a  fad  Indication  of  a. 

dam- 


M  E  D  I  T  A  T  ION  S.  401 

*'  ,1 

damnable  State.  For  do  we  not  conclude  that 
Member  dead,  which  feels  no  Pain  ?  Do  we  not 
Icnow  by  long  Experience,  that  the  Patient  is  then 
incurable,when  grown  infenfible  of  his  Difeafe  > 
And  7et,Wretch  that  I  am,  this  is  my  Cafe.  I  am 
thoughtlefs  and  diiTolute,  airy  and  wanton,  and 
do  not  take  any  care  to  corred  my  extravagancies, 
or  to  fix  my  wandring  Mind.  I  confefs  my  Sins 
every  day,  and  yet  repeat  them,  and  am  not  made 
fo  wife,  either  by  my  own  danger  and  difaflers,or 
thofe  of  other  Men,  to  avoid  the  pit,  into  which 
I  have  fallen  my  felf^  or  feen  my  Brethren  fall,  or 
perhaps  indeed  have  thruft  them  into.  Prayers 
and  Tears  are  the  beft  Refuge  I  can  take,  and  fub- 
jcdis  in  abundance  I  have  miniftred  for  them,  hy 
the  many  evil  things  I  have  done,  and  the  good  I 
have  negleded  to  do.  But  alas  !  I  find  my  felf 
not  at  all  touched,  as  thefe  Occafions  require. 
Quite  contrary,  my  Devotion  is  but  lukewarm- 
nefs  at  the  befl:  :  Nay,  I  languifh,  I  grow  cold, 
and  pray  without  any  manner  of  Warmth  5  and 
as  to  remorfe  for  my  fins,  my  Soul  is  perfedlly 
benumbed  and  fenfelefs.  I  know  upon  recolledli- 
on,  that  I  am  in  a  miferable  State,  and  yet  can- 
not filed  one  tear  for  m}^  Mifery  ^  becaufe  I  have 
long  continued  to  harden  my  Heart,  God  hath 
now  made  my  Fault  my  Puniftiment,  and  with- 
drawn the  Grace  of  tender  Tears  and  godly  Sor- 
row from  me. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

Confcience  is  every  where* 

IT  is  the  fondefl:  Imagination  in  the  World,  to 
fuppofe,  that  I  can  either  com.mit  fin  unob- 
fervedj  or  conceal  it  after  commiffion  ♦,  for  let  the 

f  pri- 


402  M  E  D  I  T  x\  T  I  O  N  S. 


privacy  I  effect  be  never  fo  clofe,  ftill  it  is  not 
poiTible  to  Ihut  out,  or  run  away  from,  my  own 
Confcience.     This  will  be  fure  to  bear  me  Com* 
pany,and  it  always  carries  about  with  it  all  I  have 
ever  laid  up  there,  whether  it  be  good  or  whether 
it  be  evil.     There  is  no  Truitee  to  be  compared 
with  This,  for   fidelity  and  punctual    dealing. 
Whatever  is  depoiited  in  its  cuftody  is  in  fafe 
hands,  it  keeps  it  for  the  Man  as  long  as  he  lives, 
and  will  be  fure  to  pay  down  in  full  Tale  at  the 
day  of  Death.  If  I  do  amifs,  this  is  prefent  with 
me  :,  if  I  do  well  and  feel  a  fatisfaQion  in  it,  that 
Refentment  proves  that  Confcience  is  with  me, 
and  marks  my  behaviour.   It  never  parts  with  me 
in  this  World,  and.it  will  follow  me  into  the 
next  •,  and  wherefoever  I  am,  according  to  the 
quality  of  what  I  truft  it  with,  it  never  fails  to 
reproach  and  fhame,  or  elfe  to  commend  and  ex- 
alt me.    Thus  there  is  not  only  an  evidence  of  a 
Judgment,  but  even  the  thing  it  felf  in  every  one 
of  our  breafts.     We  have  no  need  to  look  abroad 
for  Juftice,  fince  God  hath  eredled  a  Tribunal  at 
home,  and  fo  order'd  the  Matter,  that  thofe  of  a 
Man's   ov\^n  houlhold  fhould  go  thro'  the  whole 
procefs  upon  him  ^    for  here  are  Informers,  and 
WitnelTes,  Judges  and  Executioners.     For  when  I 
break  the  Law,  my  Confcience  accufes  me,  my 
Memory  teftifies  againft  me,  my  Reafon  tries  and 
judges  me  -,  fenfaal  Pleafure  is  my  Prifon,Fear  my 
Executioner,  and  finful  Delectation  my  Penalty. 
For  in  proportion  to  the  Delights  which  accompa- 
nied the  Sin,  the  Torments    are  multiplied  and 
heightned  in  the  x>unifhment.  And  God  is  juftand 
wife  in  ordaining  that  our  very  iins  fliould  prove 
our  puniihments.andthat  thepleafures  of  fin,  and 
the  pains  we  feel  for  them,  fhould  both  fpring  ou,t 
of  the  fame  Root. 

CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS. 


403 


CHAP.    XIV. 

The  Three  great  Enejnies  of     anktjid. 

HElp  me,  O  Lord  my  God,  for  my  Enemies 
have  befieged  and  compajfed  about  7ny  Soiih^ 
Thcyclofe  me  in  on  every  Jide^  and  I  am  fo  faji  in  pn- 
fon  that  I  cannot  get  forth  :  Thefe  enemies  are  the 
Fiefh,  the  World,  and  the  Devil,  The  firft  I  can- 
not^ efcape  from,  and  as  little  can  I  force  it  to 
retire  at  a  diftance  from  me .  Carry  it  about  with 
me  I  muft,  for  God  hath  laid  this  burden,  and  faf- 
ten'd  it  upon  me  :  To  kill  it  I  am  not  allowed,  to 
fuftain  it  I  am  obliged  in  my  own  defence  :  and 
yet  when  I  am  too  liberal  in  cherilliing,  I  do  but 
ftrengthen  an  Adverfary,  and  put  it  more  in  his 
power  to  do  me  mifchicf.  For  if  I  eat  wliat  is  fuffi- 
cient,and  that  yield  ftrength  and  good  nourifhment, 
the  very  health  and  found  conftitution  of  my  body 
threatens  danger  to  my  Soul.  Nor  does  this  Do- 
meftick  Foe  fight  againft  me  flngly,  but  aflifts  and 
combines  with  others-,for  theWorld  lays  clofe  iiege 
too,  and'm}^  five  Senfes  are  the  avenues,  by  which 
it  enters  and  attacks  me.  Thefe  give  free  paflage 
to  the  fatal  Darts,  and  here  Death  makes  its  ap- 
proaches to  my  heart.  My  Eye  gazes  about, and 
\)j  admitting  variety  of  engaging  Objeds,  draws 
oft  my  Attention  from  the  One  thing  necei^ar3^ 
The  Ear  is  open  to  pleafing  Sounds,  and  thefe 
difturb  the  Mind  in  its  Meditations.  The  Smell  a- 
mufes,  and  obftruds  ferious  thinking.  TheTongue 
is  lavlih  infpeech,  and  lets  it  felf  loofe  to  flattery, 
and  falfhood.  The  Touch  kindles  impure  Fires' 
takes  every  flight  occafion  to  defile  the  Man  with 
lufl,and  unlefs  the  firft  m.otions  be  carefully  guard- 
ed, and  refolutely  rejeded,  it  feizes,  vanquilhes, 
and  inflames  the  whole  body :  The  fteps  by  which 

it 


404  MEDITATIONS. 


it  advances  in  this  Conqueft  are,firft  to  tickle  the 
Imagination  with  unclean  Thoughts,  then  to  pol- 
lute the  Mind  with  unlawful  Delight,and  ^t  laft  to 
fubdue  the  Reafon  by  confenting  to  wicked  Incli- 
nations. Laftly,  the  Devil  bends  his  Bow,  and 
makes  ready  his  Arrows  within  the  Quiver;  This 
Enemy  is  the  moft  formidable,  becaufe  he  aflaults 
me  unfeen  •,  and  the  dangers  which  I  cannot  defcry 
are  the  moft  difficult  to  be  declined.  He  lays  his 
fnares  fecretly,  and  fays,  no  eye  fiallfee  them  Jiid,iQS 
in  the  Profperity,  and  Plenty,and  all  the  Riches, 
and  BleiTiUgs  of  the  prefent  Life,  which  we  abufe 
and  convert  to  vicious  Purpofes,  and  fo  are  drawn 
away  by  their  Allurements.  Nor  does  this  Fowler 
only  lay  Snares,  but  Birdlime  too  to  entangle  his 
Prey.  For  fuch  is  Love  of  thefe  good  things  we 
pofTefs,  Fondnefs  for  our  Friends  and  Relations, 
greedy  Defires  of  Honours  and  Preferments,  the 
Pleafures  of  Senfe  ^  all  which  ftick  faft  about  the 
Soul,  glue  it  down,  and  fetter  its  Wings,  that  it 
cannot  foar  in  Contemplation  to  the  delightful 
Manfions  of  the  heavenly  Smt.  Thefe  are  the 
Limetwigs  fcatter'd  in  our  way  by  the  Hunter  of 
Souls  ^  and  the  Arrows  he  lets  fly  at  us,  tare  our 
own  unruly  Pailions,  Anger,  and  Envy,  and  Am- 
bition,and  all  the  inordinate  Affections  that  wound 
us  in  our  animal  Life.  And  who  is  able  to  quench 
the  fiery  Darts  of  the  wicked  difcharg'd  fo  thick, 
fo  fierce,  and  fo  well  pointed,  that  the  whole  Ar- 
mour of  God  and  the  Shield  of  Faith,  are  not  al- 
ways fo  fuccefsful,  as  to  preferve  even  very  good 
Men,  from  being  fometimes  hit,  and  forely  hurt 
by  them. 

O  fl:ate  full  of  hazard,  full  of  horror  !  a  perpe- 
tual War  without  anyTruce  or  Ceffationof  Arms^ 
a  Siege  never  to  be  raifed,  but  by  demolifhing  of 
the  Walls  about  the  Cittadel :  Ambufcades  and 
Mines  every  where,  thick  Fire  and  iharp  Swords 
laying  at  us  on  all  fides  ^  that  is,  Temptations  and 

Dangers 


MEDITATIONS. 


405 


Dangers  in  each  A<3:ion  and  Accidentof  my  Life. 
What  Courfe  foever  I  bend  there  is  no  Security. 
The  Events  which  delight,  and  thofe  which  grieve 
and  pain  us,  do  either  of  them  minifter  juft  grounds 
of  Fear„  Hunger  and  Fuhiefs  of  Bread,  Sleep  and 
Watching,  Toll  and  Eafe  are  all  engaged  againft 
me,  and  attack  me  in  different  Methods.  Mirth 
and  Complaifance  are  as  much  to  be  fufpected  as 
Ang^-r  and  Morofenefs  •  for  Freedom  of  Converfa- 
tion  is  apt  to  degenerate  into  profufe  and  unwa- 
ry talk,  and  to  give  great  Offence  to  others.  Pros- 
perity pu  ts  me  under  no  lefs  apprehenfion  than  ad- 
verfity.  For  the  Pleafure  and  Eafe  of  a  plentiful 
Fortune  are  apt  to  abate  our  Care,  and  delude  us 
with  very  miftaken  Notions  of  things  •,  and  yet 
the  DifHculties  of  an  afHicled  and  low  Condition, 
make  it  like  bitterPhy  fick  •,  the  roughnefs  of  which 
we  gather  from  its  unpalatable  Relifh,  and  fear 
that  it  Ihouldbe  too  ftrong  for  us  in  the  operation. 
The  Sins  that  I  commit  in  private  are  to  be  dread- 
ed as  of  worfe  Confequence  than  my  more  mani- 
feft  and  notorious  Offences.  For  what  Men  do 
not  fee  they  cannot  reprove,  and  when  we  are 
not  reflrained  by  Apprehenfionsof  a  Rebuke,  the 
Temptation  is  more  readily  entertained,  and  we 
indulge  our  Vices  boldly  and  without  refcrve.  All 
which  confidered,  we  have  Reafon  to  move  as 
Men  in  an  Enemy's  Country,  to  have  our  Eyes 
about  us.  and  look  behind  upon  every  little  noife, 
nor  take  one  ftep,  till  we  have  firft  viewed  well 
the  Ground,  and  how  the  Forces  are  polled  that 
come  againfl:  us.  The  Flefh  tempts  me  to  Effemi- 
nacy and  Sloth,the  World  to  Vanity  and  deluding 
Pleafures,  the  Devil  to  Malice  and  Envy.  As  oft 
as  any  carnal  Imagination  ftrikes  upon  the  Mind, 
and  vehemently  importunes  me,  as  oft  as  I  feel  the 
anxious  care  of  making  provifionfor  meat  and  drink 
and  fleep,  and  other  neceffaries,  refrelhments  and 
pleafures,  which  tend  to  the  Eafe  or  Ornament  of 

the 


4o6  MEDITATIONS. 


the  Body,  thefe  are  properly  the  fuggeftiohs  of  the 
Flefh.    When  I  find  my  heart  fwell  with  Pride 
and  Ambition,  when  I  thirft  after  Honour,  or 
•    Riches,  or  Grandeur  ^  when  I  am  tempted  to  va- 
lue my  felf  highly,  and  to  defpife  others  ^  all 
7^        tbeie,  afpiring  and  greedy  thoughts  are  in  a  more 
^'  peculiar  manner  owing  to  the  World.     Bot  when 

I  feel  my  felf  ftirred  toanger  and  rage,  to  revenge 
and  fpite,  and  bitternefs  of,*Spirit,  thefe  are  the 
Infinuations  of  the  Devil,  and  as  refolutely  to  be 
withftood,  as  if  I  faw  the  Fiend  himfelf,  and  en- 
tred  into  perfonal  Combat  with  him.     For  thefe 
Temptations  and  wicked  Suggeftions  are  the  Arms 
he  makes  ufe  of  againft  us  in  our  fpiritual Warfare, 
and  therefore  we  ought  to  be  as  much  upon  our 
guard  againft  them,  as  we  would  againft  damna- 
tion it  felf.     His  part  is  to  put  thefe  evil  imagina- 
tions into  our  H*earts,  and  Ours,  obftinately  to 
deny  them  accefs,  op'dSfito  df ive  them  out  again 
without  delay.     Artdl^f  tlS^encourage  us  to  a 
manful  reliftance,  that  every  time  we  v/ithftand  a 
temptaj:iD%  tiand  continue  inflexible,  we  put  the 
Prin^t.of'Darknefs  to  the  roiiff  we  bring  joy  and 
tri;tenph  to  the  bleifed  Angels,  and  glory  to  Al- 
mighty God.  For  it  is  by  his  command  that  we  en- 
counter this  terrible  adverfary,andby  thefuccour 
of  his  Grace  that  we  keep,  and  gain  the  field.  His 
Eye  is  upon  us  throughout  the  whole  conflid,  he 
fuftains  us  when  we  feel  our  fel*j|^^Gver-power\l, 
rallies  us  again  when  we  give^;l^und,  pours  in 
frefli  recruits  when  we  are  tir^  and  fpent^  and 
crowns  us  when  we  have  at  laft  got  the  vidlory. 


CHAP. 


MEDITATIONS.  407 


CHAP.     XV- 

Tl  /I  Y  Flefh  was  firil  prorluced  out  of  Duft  and 
I VI  Clay,  and  all  the  voluptuous  and  fenfual 
Imaginaticns  which  tend  to  the  gratifjn'ng  this  part 
of  me,  plainly  confefs  the  vilenefs,  and  refemble 
the  filth  of  that  earthy  Principle,  to  which  they 
owe  their  birth.  So  do  the  vanity  and  diftrading 
anxiety  of  the  worldly,  and  the  malice  of  diaboli- 
cal Suggeftions,  retain  a  Tindlure  of  their  feveral 
Authors.  But  above  all,  the  Devil  places  the 
chief  of  his  Confidence,  and  promifes  himfelf  fuc- 
cefs  in  nothing  more,  than  in  the  affifl:ance  of 
the  Flejfh.  For  open  enemies  are  lefs  capable  of 
doing  mifchief  abroad,  thanfalfe  friends  and  con- 
fpirators  at  home.  Now  the  Flefh  is  in  conftant 
league  with  the  Devil,and  contrives  to  fubvertand 
deftroy  us  :  This  Inclination  proceeds  from  its 
being  born  and  bred  up  in  Sin  ^  corrupted  with 
vicious  Difpofitions  in  its  firft  Original,  but  yet 
much  more  corrupted  by  actual  tranfgrellions,  and 
the  force  of  wicked  Cuftoms.  This  is  the  true  ac- 
count of  its  lulling  perpetually  againft  the  fpirit, 
of  its  repining  at  afflidion,  and  growing  prefently 
impatient  of  that  difcipline  and  thofe  trials,which 
God  in  his  wifdom  fees  fit  to  chaftife  and  exercife 
it  by  •,  of  its  filling  the  mind  with  uneafy  refledi- 
ons,  infinuating  unlaw^ful  defires,  rebelling  againft 
the  didates  of  fober  reafon,  and  fubmitting  to  no 
reftraints  of  godly  fear.  The  fly  old  Serpent  flrikes 
in  with  this  domeftick  Enemy,  allifts  its  treache- 
rous defigns,and  makes  ufe  of  it  as  his  Inftrument : 
For  the  Adverfary  of  Souls  hath*  no  other  Defire, 
no  other  Endeavour  or  End  that  employs  fcim,  but 
only  the  deftrudion  of  Mankind  in  general. 

This  is  he,  that  continually  bufies  himfelf  in 
plotting  of  Mifchief  He  accofts  us  with  flattering 

D  d  pre- 


4o8  MEDITATIONS- 


pretences,  he  hath  a  thoiifand  Arts  of  enticing  and 
betraying  us,  and  impofcs   upon  our  Judgments 
with  incredible  Subtlety  and  Addrefs.    He  fecret- 
ly  infpires  wicked  Inclinations  -,  and,  whenthe 
Venom  once  hath  taken  place,  inflames  the  Dif- 
eafe  •,  he  fows  the  Seeds  of  Difcord,  heightens  Qiiar- 
rcls  and  angry  Refentments  •,  whets  our  Appetite 
up  to  Gluttony  and  Intemperance,  kindles  Luft, 
excites  and  urges  fleflilr  Deiires,  provides  Incen- 
tives and  Occalions  to  Sin,  contrives  that  we  may 
neither  want  ftrong  Inclinations  to  dp  wickedly, 
nor  inviting  Opportunities  to  gratify  them,  and 
hath  an  unipeakable  Variety  of  tricking  Ways  to 
feduce,  alTault,  and  vanquifh  us.    Thus  he  wounds 
us  with  our  own  Weapon,  and  tyes  our  Hands 
with  our  own  Girdle,  and  turns  our  Flefh,  which 
was  given  us  for  a  Convenience,  into  an  Inflru- 
ment  of  Sin  and  Ruin.     The  Incounter  indeed 
muft  needs  be  Iharp  and  hazardous,  when  the  E- 
nemy  we  engage  not  only  is  within  our  Quarters, 
but  cannot  be  other  wife  •,  and  the  Danger  muft 
needs  be  greater  Hill,  when  we  are  Strangers,  and 
the  Enemy  in  his  native  Country.     He  is  in  his 
proper  Element,  we  in  a  ftate  of  Banilhment,  Fo- 
reigners and  far  diltant  from  our  Friends  and  the 
Place  of  our  Birth.     The  frequency  and  continu- 
al Attempts  of  the  Devil,  which  never  afford  us 
any  Interval  of  Quiet,  are  alfo  a  frefli  Addition  to 
our  Fears  •,  for  how  fnall  the  Soul  be  continually 
awake  and  in  a  Pofture  of  Defence  >  How  fliall  it 
be  a  Match  for  that  Enemy,  whofe  Cunning  is  io 
much  fuperior  to  any  human  Prudence,  both  by 
the  Condition  of  his  Nature,  and  by  that  Dexteri- 
ty in  which  long  Practice  muii  needs  have  render- 
ed him  mofl  accoraplifned  and  perfedl  in  ? 


CHAR 


M  E  D  I   r  A  r  J  O  N  S.  409 

CHAP.     XVI. 

DEliver  Vie  from  mute  eneimes^  0  God^  fave  vie^U]  $p. 
from  the  rage  of  them  that  hate  vie  •  for  the  i^  2- 
77i?ghty  are  gathered  together  agalvjl  me  '^-ajid  they  that 
thlft  for  bloody  lye  in  wait  for  7ny  foul.  By  the  at- 
iiftance  cf  thy  heavenly  Grace,  I  defire  and  re- 
folve  from  this  day  forward  to  live  to  my  Benefit 
and  Happinefs,  and  to  redeem  that  time  which 
hath  been  hitherto  mifpent  to  my  infinite  Detri- 
ment and  Danger.  For  fure  we  ought  to  i  nploy  the 
Term  allotted  us  in  this  World,  as  becomes  Men 
who  have  a  lively  Hope  •,  that  when  their  perifliing 
Bodies  fhall  be  Food  for  Worms,  their  immortal 
Souls  fhall  enter  in^o  Joy  with  the  Saints.  Fit  then 
it  is  that  our  Mind  faould  be  fet  betimes  into  the 
right  Road  to  that  Place,which  is  appointed  for  its 
journey's  end  at  laft.  For  why  fhould  we  not  make 
the  beft  of  our  way  to  thofe  happy  Regions,where 
we  fliall  live  for  ever  fecure  from  fear,  or  pofUbi- 
lity  of  dying  any  a:ore  >  If  we  are  fo  immoderate- 
ly fond  of  Life  here  below,  fo  fhort  and  fo  perpe- 
t  ually  upon  the  decay,where  we  make  fo  ver}''  hard 
a  ihift  to  live  with  tolerable  comfort,  where  eating 
and  drinking,  fleeping,  and  the  other  Neceiiities 
of  this  Body  devour  fo  great  a  portion  of  our  time 
and  labour,  and  all  does  but  juft  fupport  this  mafs 
of  Clay.  How  much  more  paihonately  ought  we 
to  love,  hoA^  much  more  earneflly  to  covet  that 
eternal  Life,  where  neither  Labour  nor  Pain  fliall 
have  any  place,v/here  v/e  fhall  enjoy  pleafure,and 
happinefs  and  freedom  in  Perfeftion  ^  where  Men 
fnall  be  equal  to  the  Angels  of  God,  and  the  righteous 
fiall  Jlnne  as  the  Sun  in  the  Kingdom  of  their  Father  ? 
How  glorioufly  bright  may  we  fuppofe  the  Souls 
o:  Men  fliall  then  be,  when  even  their  Bodies 
fliall  be  as  refplendent  as  the  Stars  in  the  Firma- 
ment ?  No  melancholy  nor  heavinefs  of  heart,  no 
pain  or  fear,  no  labour  or  decay,  or  death  there, 

D  d  2  but 


41  o MEDITATION  b. 

but  ever  blooming  Youth  and  Health  unbroken 
continues  out  of  danger  of  decay  or  interruption. 
There  is  no  Sin,  no  Mifery,  no  Difcontent,  no 
Temptation,  no  Inclination  to  Wickednefs,  but 
Holinefs  and  Peace,  and  Security,  and  Joy,  reft 
from  Toil,  Pleafures  always  new,  the  Sight  and 
Fruition  of  God  ever  ravifhing  fweet.  And  who 
would  not  inofi:  eagerly  defire  to  dwell  in  this 
blifsful  place  ?  Who  would  not  think  himfelf  hap- 
py in  Peace  foundifi:urbed,inPleafare  fo  exquifite, 
in  the  Yifion  of  God,  fo  tranfcendently  glorious  ? 
No  ftranger  is  admitted  there,  lut  all  are  Citizens 
of  that  heavenly  Jeriifahm  ^  and  dwell  fccure  in 
their  own  Country,  among  their  dearefl:  Friends, 
ever  rejoycing,  ever  fatisfied  with  Good,  and  yet 
ever  defiring  mere,  and  the  m^ore  diligent  a  Man 
hath  been  in  the  Service  of  God,  the  larger  Reward 
in  proportion  fhall  he  receive  at  the  Hand  of  his 
bountiful  Mafter.  The  Condition,  tho'  not  the 
meritorious  Caufeof  our  Blifs  everlafting  is  Obe- 
dience •,  and  that  Obedience  is  accepted  accord- 
ing to  the  Sincerity  and  Love  from  which  it  pro- 
ceeds. And  this  Love,  as  it  recommends  our  Ser- 
vices, fo  does  it  add  to  our  Reccmpence.  For 
the  more  fervently  we  love  God,  the  nearer  fhall 
we  be  fuffered  to  approach,  and  have  the  clearer 
View  of  him  •,  and  the  nearer  we  fee,  the  more 
ftill  we  fhall  defire  to  fee  him,  and  be  the  more 
tranfported  with  the  Sight. 


CHAP.    XVII. 

TH  E  Days  of  Man  upon  Earth  are  but  a 
Shadow,  always  in  Motion,  and  he  in  truth 
no  better  thanVanity,  and  Nothing,  even  when  he 
feemsto  be  moil  fuMantial  and  at  a  ftay.  How 
foolifh  is  it  then  for  Man  to  la}^  up  Treafures  up- 
on Earth,  fince  both  he  who  heaps  them  up  and 
that  which  is  heaped  up,  are  eternally  in  motion, 

and 


MEDITATIONS.         /     j^;— 

and  pafs  awav,  like  Water  that  runneth  apace      '       »  ' 
What  advantage,  vain  Man,  doft  thou  cxped  j 
this  World?  For  the  advantage  of  worldly-mind' 
Men  is  Deftrudlion,  and  the  end  of  it  is  Death.  O 
that  thou  wert  wife,  that  thou  wouldft  underftand, 
that  thou  would'ft  coniider  what  will  happen  to 
thee  in  the  latter  days.  I  know,  my  Soul,  a  certain 
Perfon  that  hath  lived  in  great  familiarity  with 
thee,for  feveral  Years, hath  always  fat  at  the  fame 
Table,  been  fed  by  thy  owq  hand,flept  in  th}^  own 
bofom,  and  converft  with  thee  as  thy  moll;  inti- 
mate favourite  and  friend.    This  fellow  is  of  right 
thy  Servant  •  but  the  Kindnefs  thou  haft  fliewed 
him  from  the  beginning,  and  the  fparing  thofe 
Chaftifements  which  his  Petulance  defended,  have 
made  him  impudent  and  rebellious  ^  for   want  of 
being  kept  under  by  the  Rod,  he  hath  lift  up  his 
heel  and  kick'dat  thy  life  •  nay,  he  hath  enfnared 
his  Mafter,  and  repayed  his  Indulgence  with  a 
m.oft  infulent  and  tyrannical  cruel ty.Thou  wouldlt 
ask  perhaps  whom  I  drive  at  all  this  while  ^  it  is 
the  Old  Man,  who  infults  over  and  raifes  Sedition 
againft  thy  Soul,  to  whole  juft  Dominion  he  ought 
to  fubmit,who  proudly  difdains  the  land  of  promife, 
and  favours  onl}'-  the  things  that  be  cf  the  fiefli  and 
Senfe.  This  Man  is  blind,  and  deaf,  and  dumb  from 
his  birth  •,  a  wretch,harden'd  and  old  in  wickedncfs, 
an  obftinate  Rebel  toTruth  and  Yertue,  and  an  ir- 
reconcileable  Enemy  to  the  Crofs  of  Chrift..    He 
makes  a  laughing-ftock  of  the  Innocent,  and  him 
that  walketh  in  the  uprightnefs  of  his  heart  •,  is  al- 
ways aiming  at  matters  too  high  for  him,  bold  and  ^ 
allumdng,  and  boafts  of  things  above  his  ftrength  ; 
bears  no  refpe*ft  to  any  of  his  fuperiors,  and  in  his 
foolifh  Heart  fays.  There  is  no  God.  He  pines  away  ^^^j^  .  ^^ 
and  frets  at  the  profperity  of  others,but  grows  fat 
and  triumphs  in  their  Misfortunes  and  Mifery  5 
feeds  upon  carnal  and  unclean  Imaginations,  and 
perfifts  in  impudent  fiitliinefs  without  remorfe  •, 

fquanders 


4t2  MEDITATIONS. 


fquandcrs  his  own  PofTefTions  like  a  Spendthrift, 
fcrambles  and  grafps  at  other  Men's  like  an  infati- 
able  Mifer  ^  he  treaftires  up  Shame  and  Reproach 
to  himfelf,  and  hy  his  Diinmnlation,  and  Craft, 
and  vile  H^ypocrifr,  provokes  the  Wrath  and  Ven- 
geance of  Almighty  God. 

This  Man  was  altogether  born  and  bred  up  in 
Sin,  a  Friend  ofUnrighteoufnefs,  a  Child  of  Death^ 
aYclfel  of  Wrath,  fitted  for  Deftrudion  ^  and  yet, 
notwithftanding  thefe  forbidden  Circumftauces, 

P|-  J    -^  this  profiigatcvvrctch  hath  the  confidence  top/each 

,5/       '  God^s  Laws^  avd  tale  his  Covenant  into  hh  month.  He 
hates  Reproof  and  Difcipline,  and  c^s  his  Maf- 

*^>   ^^^    ter's  Word  behind  his  back  ^  When  he  fees  a  thief ^  he 
coffents  vnto  hhn^anJ.  hath  beenpa^taher  v/ith  the  A- 

*P>  '°'     dulterers  :  He  hath  Jlandered  and  offended  his  own 
Mothe/s  Son-^  and  made  it  his  Bu/inefs,  by  a 

Rom.  2. 5.  hard  and  impenitent  Heart,  to  treafure  vp  Wrath 
a^ainji  the  Day  of  Wrath.  He  labours  to  undermine 
thee  in  thj^moii  valuable  Intereft,  would  rob  thee 
of  thy  Inheritance-,  and  thou  art  fo  tame,  fo 
treacherous  to  thy  fclf,  as  not  only  not  to  revenge, 
but  even  to  connive  at,  and  not  be  fenfible  of  the 
Injury  :  Thou  giveft  him  not  one  hard  Word,  nor 
cafteil:  one  angrv  Look,  but  fmileft  at  him  while 
he  carefies  and  fawns  upon  thee.  Thou  playeft 
with  a  Scorner,  and  confiderefl:  not  that  thou  art 
engaged  v/ith  a  mocking  IJhjfiael.  This  is  not  a 
Diverfion  oi:  Children,  nor  a  recreation  c-f  flmpli- 
city  and  innocence  ^  but  a  woful  delufion,  a  mali- 
cious Perfecution,  a  murd'ring  of  thy  Life.  He 
•cafts  thee  into  the  Pit  himfelf  had  digged  for  thy 
Deftru61ion.  Thou  art  foften'd  into  Luxur}^,  and 
fold  to  fin,  miferably  enflaved,  and  barbaroufl}'' 
treated.  O  wretched  Man,  who  fliall  fet  thee  free 
from  the  Bond  cf  this  Mifery  and  Reproach  !  Let, 
,  Godarife,  and  fpoil  this^ftrong  Man,  let  his  Ene- 
my fall  before  liim,  this  Defpifer  of  his  Majefty, 
this  idola'rousWorfnipper  of  Himfelf^this  lover  of 

^  '  the 


MEDITATIONS.  415 

the  World,  this  Servant  of  Satan.  What  doft  thou 
think  now  of  this  Tray  tor,  this  Tyrant  ?  If  thou 
refenteft  his  Behaviour  as  itdeferves,  thou  wilt 
immediately  cry  out,  Hj  is  guilty  ofDeath^  let  hi7n 
he  criiiified.  Do  not  therefore  difTemble  thy  juil 
Indignation,  do  not  delay  thy  Revenge^  let  not 
thine  Eye  fpare,  neither  let  it  pity  him.  Crucify 
this  Man  of  Sin  iDoldly,  refoliitely,  inftantly,  but 
crucify  him  with  the  Crofs  of  Chrift,  in  which  is 
Life  and  Salvation.  For  if  thou  cry  for  help  to  that 
merciful  Saviour,who  did  not  difdain  to  be  crucifi- 
ed for  thy  ii^ke,he  will  hear  thee  efFedually,and  ac- 
cording to  his  wonted  goodnefs,  return  that  com- 
fortable Anfwer,  Thou  that  art  with  me  now  upon 
the  Crpfs,  jl^alt  alfo  he  with  me  this  Day  iJt  Paradice, 
Oh  the  Bowels  of  Compailion !  Oh  the  Riches 
of  the  Mercy  of  Chrift  1  Oh  the  furprizingmyftery 
of  the  Redemption  of  loft  Sinners  !  So  free,  fo  rea- 
dy is  the  Love  of  God,  fo  amazing  his  Goo  'nefs, 
fo  far  above  all  hope,  his  Condefcenfion  fo  unwea- 
ried, fo  invincible  hisclemency,that,whenMenfaft 
bound  'in  Sin  and  Afflictions  cry  to  him  in  their 
Diftrefs,  he  hears  them  out  of  their  Prirons,and  de- 
fcends  from  his  holy  Heaven  to  their  relief,becaufe 
his  Mercy  endureth  for  ever.  How  unbounded 
,  is  his  kindnefs,howunparallerd  his  eafinefs  ofac- 
cefs,  how  inexpreftible  the  happy  change  wrought 
by  the  hand  of  the  mofthigheft  for  moft  unworthy 
moft  profligate  Creatures  1  Even  for  thee,  my  Soul, 
the  moft  abandoned  of  ail  Creatures.  Lately  thou 
fatteft  in  Darknefs,  and  the  Shadow  of  Death,  but 
now  art  fecure  in  the  Regions  of  Light  and  Glory.  - 
Lately,  a  Prey  in  the  Lion's  Mouth  who  lay  in 
wait  to  tear  thy  Soul  in  pieces,  but  now  in  the 
Hand  of  that  faithful  Shepherd,  that  powerful 
Mediator  out  of  which  no  Malice,  no  Force  can 
ever  pluck  thee  :  Lately  within  the  Gates  of  Hell, 
now  in  the  midft  of  Paradice. 

B»t 


414  MEDITATIONS. 

But  to  what  purpofe,Chriftian  Reader,  do  I  re- 
count thefe  Benefits,  or  put  thee  in  mind  of  thy 
Advantages  or  thy  Duty,  by  a  Book  of  pious  Ad- 
monitions, unlefs  thou  diligently  perufe  the  Book 
of  Confcience,andblot  out  all  the  blackCatalogue 
of  Sins  written  there  againft  thee  ?  I  may  Write, 
and  thou  may'ft  Read  and  underftand  thefe  Re* 
fledtions,  but  all  to  no  effed:,  till  thou  Study  and 
Read,  and  throughly  underftand  thy  own  felf. 
Give  heed  therefore  to  this  above  all  other  Studies, 
confider,  and  refolve  to  continue  no  longer  ig- 
norant of  the  State  of  thy  own  Soul.  Read  thus, 
that  thou  mayft  love  God,  that  thou  mayft  encoun- 
ter and  overcome  the  World,  and  every  Enemy 
that  oppofes  thy  Peace  and  Salvation.  So  fhall 
thy  Labour  end  in  Reft,  thy  Sorrow  clear  up  in- 
to Joy  ^  and  when  the  Darknefs  of  this  traniito- 
ry  Life  fcatters  and  wears  off,  a  glorious  Morn- 
ing fhall  dawn  in  Comfort  unfpeakable,  and  the 
Meridian  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  fhall  warm  thee 
into  new  Life,  and  fhed  his  bright  Beams  upon 
thy  Head.  Then  ftialt  thou  fee  the  Bridegroom, 
and  his  myftical  Spoufe  in  perfed:  Unity  and 
inviolable  Love  ^  and  rejoyce  at  the  Alarriage 
Feaft  of  that  Lamb,  who  was  dead,  and  is  alive  a- 
again^  even  that  Lord  of  Glory,  who  liveth  and 
reigneth  for  ever  and  ever.     Ameju 

The  £wi  0/ *St.. Bernard's  Meditatio?ts. 


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